266 
REPORTS OF OASES. 
or comparatively mild winds will originate the malady almost as 
soon as the young stock are placed thereon, such being far more 
marked with some fields than others. Too much heating corn in 
the winter, feeding or a sudden chatige from poor to rich diet, are 
alike important agencies in so acting on the vital fluid as to in¬ 
fluence the production of the disorders. In what way the 
microbe peculiar to this affection gains ingress to the system is even 
now a matter of speculation, but that bacteria are present in vast 
numbers in the blood of those which die from the malady is 
clearly certain, and, further, that they speedily bring about dis¬ 
solution and its attendant symptoms by rapid reproduction and 
growth, making war on the red corpuscles for a supply of oxygen, 
and by their innumerability blocking up the capillary vessels, are 
points more fully agreed upon. Leaving theories for fuller 
consideration at some future time, to meet the present demand of 
the farmer and stock owner, the great aim must be the prevention 
of the malady, and without doubt the majority of measures suit¬ 
able for adoption lie in the agriculturists’ own hands; in winter 
by a judicious feeding, sparingly using corn, alternately with 
hay, and not forgetting to place in the mangers the most nec¬ 
essary rock salt; overcrowding must likewise be avoided and sud¬ 
den changes in either location or quality of pasture (particularly 
if rich and luxuriant at both spring and fall) carefully guarded 
against. Let the best doing animal of the herd be closely 
watched as he will be the first to go under. In event of an out¬ 
break occurring it is not policy to strip the hide off the dead ani¬ 
mal and blood-stain the grass for the sake of the small amount 
likely to be realized thereby. Not only does it contaminate the 
pasture, but there is the probability of earth worms appropriating 
bacteria and casting them up again at some future season amongst 
the herbage. Better to take the carcass straight away, bury it 
deep and cover with quick-lime. To the rest of the herd an im¬ 
portant change of feeding should take place; in winter for a time 
give nothing but hay and bran, in summer put for some days on 
the scantiest pasture and gradually change back, seeing, mean¬ 
while, that they have pure water. A mild aperient dose all around 
should be given, followed by the use of hyposulphite of soda, care 
