REVIEWS. 
109 
formation of blood, are to be constantly met with in after- 
death examination of cattle dying from this disease. The 
kidneys are congested and very dark coloured, and their 
pelves present small ecchymosed spots; the bladder is gene¬ 
rally distended, with dark coloured urine; the mucous mem¬ 
brane of the bladder appears thickened, and occasionally 
shows blood extravasations ; the brain is generally soft. 
PER-CENTAGE OF DEATHS. 
The evidence presented to your committee leads them to 
believe that the average per-centage of deaths among those 
attacked will reach ninety per cent. In fact, this is a low 
estimate. In some localities every beast has been cut otf. No 
reliable curative seems to have been discovered; and, in most 
cases, proprietors seemed to have no faith in any curative 
process proposed. They seemed to regard animals attacked 
as beyond recovery. Your committee suggested the use of 
sulphite of soda as a probable means of destroying the virus, 
but no information has reached them as to whether this ag-ent 
was employed, and with what results. 
The committee may properly advert to another aspect of 
this important question. It has been stated by a learned 
scientific gentleman, ^ that it is a consolation to know that 
there is not the slightest danger of any evil arising from the 
drinking of the milk of the sick cows,’ ^ and,’ adds the same 
gentleman, ‘ I should have no scruples in eating the flesh.’ 
This seems a bold and extraordinary statement. On this 
point, your committee beg to refer to a report of the Metro¬ 
politan Board of Health, dated New York, August I3th, 
1868. It is there stated, that ^ the investigations made by 
scientific and experienced members of this Board, have fully 
confirmed the opinion that the flesh of these diseased animals 
cannot safely be used for food. The information now before us 
clearly shows that, until some proof of the contrary is shown, 
the malignant disease which has been brought eastward from 
Illinois and Indiana, should be regarded and treated as an 
infectious fever or plague. The transportation of any sick or 
infected cattle from the sickly district to other States, should 
be prohibited.’ This seems to be a rational conclusion, and 
the authority is high.” 
This account of the malady contains information of an 
important character, which more than justifies the appre¬ 
hensions felt by breeders in this country of danger arising 
from the unrestricted importation of American hay, and 
proves that a necessity really did exist for the prohibitive 
order which limits the consumption of that provender to 
horses. 
