344 
EDITORIAL. 
Therefore, in the estimation of the author of the article, tin 
animals constituting the u so-called cured cases ” of contagion 
pleuro-pneumonia are not dangerous, so far as the spreading o 
disease is concerned. And his opinion is based on, what? Or , 
process of experimentation, which, perhaps, was not carried out l 
the supporters of the contrary opinion, but by himself. We agre 
with him; evidently, his experiments were not followed by an- 
processes producing anything resembling contagious pleuro 
pneumonia, or its remotest symptoms. But a little carefu 
thought must lead to the conclusion that these experiments wei\ 
of no value in the inquiry presented. Too many evidences exis 
which seem to prove this dangerous condition of “recovem 
cases.” The following case recorded by Mr. Clement Stephenson 
F.R.C.V.S., proves the fact beyond a doubt. 
Veterinary Report for Year ending September 30, 1885. 
[Copy.] 
To the Chairman and Gentlemen of the Executive Committee for Northumberland. 
Gentlemen. The work of the past year has been troubloseme, disheartening 
and expensive. There have been six outbreaks of pleuro-pneumonia to contend 
with, in which a total of two hundred and five animals have been implicated. 
The lot of cattle in which the disease first appeared was bought in April. 
1884, and remained apparently healthy up to July in this year; the disease wa? 
then developed, and in so violent a form, that the first animal died on the seventl 
day. This lapid death, not usual in this disease, was explained by the post¬ 
mortem examination, which revealed the disease in two forms or stages, namely: 
recent acute disease, and old encysted cases. The latter had lain dormant foi 
fifteen months. I have before pointed out the peculiarities and dangers of these 
old encysted cases, of which, during the year, I have found no less than nine, 
eight of which were in cattle brought from Ireland. 
Encysted pleuro-pneumonia is found in those animals which from having 
been in infected herds, have contracted the disease, but in so light a form (only 
a small piece of the lung being affected) that apparent recovery haa taken place; 
in fact, they may have been so slightly affected that little or no deviation from 
health may have been observed. 
Lung tissue, when once invaded by this disease, never recovers its normal 
condition; it becomes enlarged, hardened, and impervious to air, and, in those 
apparent recoveries, the portion of lung affected is isolated and cut off from the 
remainder of the lung by a dense fibrous capsule, and it appears that so long as 
this imprisoned portion of dead lung remains firm and unbroken down, so loDg 
may the animal appear to be doing well. But the length of this, the firm quies¬ 
cent stage, is as uncertain as the incubative one. A time comes when the im- 
