CATTLE DISEASE IN CHINA. 
41 
past ten days 22 cows out of 35, and 2 buffaloes out of 3. 
The disease is true rinderpest or Steppe murrain. It is 
highly contagious; rapidly and almost certainly fatal. Treat¬ 
ment appears to be useless, and no reliance can be placed 
upon any special drugs or combinations of drugs. Affected 
cattle should be slaughtered at once, and the bodies buried. 
The flesh of animals suffering from this disease is unfit 
for food; and milk yielded by sick cows ought not to be 
drunk. 
“ The symptoms observed in this epidemic are briefly as 
follow: 
“ In the first stage of the disease the animal eats badly or 
altogether refuses to feed ; the bowels are usually consti¬ 
pated ; the coat stares; the ears droop, and the movements 
of the body are sluggish. Thirst is not a marked symptom 
at first. If a milch cow suffers, the milk is markedly dimi¬ 
nished in quantity, and soon ceases altogether to be 
secreted. 
“In the more advanced stages the animal lies down, 
breathing hurriedly and laboriously. A thin purulent dis¬ 
charge escapes from the eyes, nose and mouth, in greater or 
less quantity. Thirst is great. A profuse watery dysenteric 
diarrhoea sets in. 
“The average duration of the disease, from the onset till 
the fatal termination, is six days. 
“The appearances after death are briefly as follow: 
“ The most marked lesions are found in the respiratory 
passages. The mucous membrane lining the nostrils and 
windpipe is dirty red or leaden coloured, exhibiting here and 
there patches of a yellow muco-purulent deposit adherent to 
its surface, and covering portions which appear finely gra¬ 
nular—denuded of epithelium. These patches of deposit are 
most abundant in the larynx. The lungs are frequently 
congested throughout; the divisions of the bronchi filled with 
an abundant white froth. The intestines were more or less 
inflamed in every case examined. The mucous lining was 
congested, and exhibited in some cases appearances similar to 
those observed in the air-passages. The small intestines appear 
to be chiefly affected. 
“ There is great difficulty in tracing the extension of this 
disease among cattle owned by natives. Mr. Keele, the 
Council's Market Inspector, is actively engaged in making 
inquiries. 
“Shanghai, 3rd April, 1872.” 
Up to the 16 th of April my opportunities for observation 
