628 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
horses , as described by the Mantuan poet, in common with 
cattle and sheep, depended or not on the same affection. We 
know of no such disease in the present day, although the 
victims to epizootics are both numerous and various. 
Eczema, which attacks the greatest variety of domesticated 
animals, and even the gallinaceous tribe of birds, is never 
met with in the horse ; nor is the pleuro-pneumonia of cattle 
or the variola of sheep capable of being communicated to 
him. 
Mention has just been made of epizootic eczema, which 
reminds me that this disease has been more rife during the 
past year than for many previous ones. It has, however, 
assumed rather the endemic form than otherwise, and hence 
been confined to localities where secondary causes were in 
full operation to favour the outbreak. In and around London 
hundreds of cattle, sheep, and pigs were at one time the 
subjects of the malady, and to such an extent did it prevail, 
that for many weeks the animals which were sent from the 
metropolitan market into the lairs, to wait the next market 
day, were almost certain to be attacked by the disease in the 
interim. Much solicitude was likewise felt, for fear of its 
extension among the cattle which were brought together at 
the annual meeting of the Smithfield Club, in consequence 
of its appearance among them. Comparatively speaking, 
however, only a few cases occurred, the escape of many of 
the animals probably depended upon a prior attack of the 
malady, and others upon a state of organism insusceptible at 
that particular period to the affection. Secondary causes 
are often too little regarded in these outbreaks, which arises, 
in part, from their great variety. It is when a disease of this 
kind shows itself in its sporadic form that we can study the 
secondary causes to advantage. Several such instances have 
come under my observation. I will mention, however, but 
two, as having very recently occurred. In the first, a valu¬ 
able herd of Shorthorn cows were attacked with this disease in 
consequence of being compelled to drink at a stream whose 
waters were contaminated by the refuse animal matters coming 
from some kennels. In this case the affection assumed a malig- 
nant type,and several of the animals died,butitdid not extend 
to the other cattle on the farm, although placed at a very short 
distance from the infected, as they had a continuous supply 
of pure water. In the second instance the outbreak took 
place among some pigs which were being fed on the blood 
and other products of a slaughter-house; and as these 
animals were located in a yard with some oxen, the malady 
within a few days had extended to them, but did not go 
beyond the precincts of the premises. These examples will 
