96 
REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
other diseases of cattle, and in nearly every instance in which 
it occurs it is but an effect of suspended function of the third 
stomach, as the cessation of rumination is of the first. 
Treatment .—We have very little to report of a satisfactory 
description of the medical treatment of the rinderpest. In¬ 
deed, no attempts at curing the disease are now made, in con¬ 
sequence of the inutility of all the means which have hitherto 
been tried, and the greater risk which is incurred of a 
further extension of the malady by the keeping alive of 
animals which would otherwise be slaughtered at once. The 
advancement which has of late years attached to the science 
of medicine w T ould seem to hold out a hope that remedies 
may yet be found for this incurable disease. All experiments, 
however, which may be undertaken for this object would 
have, we believe, but little chance of success unless they were 
carried out by, or under the immediate superintendence of 
the professors of the different veterinary institutions of those 
countries in which the pest prevails. 
No definite plan of treatment can be laid down, except it is 
that of supporting the fleeting vital powers while nature is 
attempting to rid the system of the poison, and then endea¬ 
vouring to counteract the ill effects which had resulted from 
these efforts. Remedies calculated to promote this end must, 
however, be selected for each particular case, and also be 
suited to each particular stage of the malady, or no good is 
likely to follow. 
With these few observations on this part of our subject, we 
shall proceed to give the details in full of several cases of the 
disease which came under our immediate notice. 
Case 1. 
Mention has been made, at page 648, Veterinarian , 1858, of an aged 
cow, which was observed, on our second visit to the quarantine-stations 
on May 5th, to be out of health, the symptoms indicating that she was the 
subject of the malady. 
Considering the great fatality and the usually rapid progress of the 
rinderpest, it is somewhat surprising that its victims should so fre¬ 
quently show such little disturbance to their health at the commence¬ 
ment of the attack. The animal in question was a remarkable instance 
of this, as well as of the occasional mild character of the disease. The 
chief indications of illness which she exhibited, when first seen, were 
tremors of most of the voluntary muscles of the body, but more espe¬ 
cially those of the extremities. The triceps muscles of the fore-limbs, 
and the glutei , vastly and triceps in particular of the hind-limbs, were 
most affected with these tremblings} besides which a spasmodic jerking 
of their fasciculi could be detected as coming on at irregular and short 
intervals. The animal stood with her back arched and legs gathered 
together under the body. The head w r as extended, ears lopped, and 
