ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 
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pneumonia. I had an opportunity of examining the lungs, liver 
stomachs, and intestines, and the spleen of this animal, and the lesions 
presented by them were, as Mr. Edwards had previously expressed 
himself, “ quite different from those of pleuro-pneumonia.” The his¬ 
tory of the case, as well as the 'post-mortem, examination, were both indi¬ 
cative of blood poisoning. Neither in the one nor the other were there 
any evidences of contagious lung disease. On the contrary, everything 
pointed to some sudden disturbance of the sanguiferous system. A 
careful examination of the remaining portion of the herd failed to elicit 
anything definite as to the existence of pleuro-pneumonia. On the fol¬ 
lowing day (March 11th) I again visited Rothamsted, and further exam¬ 
ined the cows, as well as the other portion of the herd, but without 
being able to satisfy myself of the existence of pleuro-pneumonia. 
On the experience now obtained, the following letter was addressed to 
Mr. Lawes: 
“ Sir, —From a careful consideration of all the circumstances connected 
with the cow whose viscera I examined when at Rothamsted, I am of 
opinion that death was the result of ‘ anthrax,’ a disease of the blood, 
more commonly known as ‘ blood-poisoning.’ With regard to the 
causation of the malady, I think the facts pertaining to the case point to 
a too thrifty and plethoric condition of the body as the most reliable 
explanation. The measures already adopted towards the herd fairly 
anticipated the conclusion arrived at, and 1 yesterday further suggested 
to your bailiff that the quantity of cake now being given should be 
diminished to the extent of three pounds per day. 1 would add to that 
suggestion the advisability of allowing the cows slow walking exercise 
—say half an hour each day. For the carrying out of the latter object, 
it would perhaps be found convenient to deal with ten animals at once 
instead of the whole number. With reference to the cause of death in 
connection with the first four cases, I am not in a position to speak with 
authority, but it is highly probable that some of them, and notably the 
third cow that died, succumbed to the same disease as the one referred 
to above. Of the supposed existence of pleuro-pneumonia, I have not 
been able to procure any evidence in the remaining portion of your herd. 
As, however, Mr. Edwards, who has a large experience to guide him, 
has certified to the existence of that disease in the case of the cow first 
taken ill, the most scrupulous care and watchfulness should be exercised 
in regard to the health of the herd in the immediate future. 
“ I am, yours faithfully, 
“To J. B. Lawes, Esq.” “ J. Wortley Axe. 
In reply to my communications, favorable reports continued to be 
received up to Saturday morning, the 17th April. In the afternoon of 
that day Mr. Lawes telegraphed to Professor Simonds as follows:— 
“ Cow died just after being turned out; quite well before.” I was 
again instructed to visit Rothamsted, and, on making a post-mortem 
examination of the beast referred to, lesions of contagious lung disease 
were found to be distinctly pronounced. There were, however, besides, 
extensive lesions of the intestinal canal, liver, and lymph glands, of 
such a nature as to leave no doubt of the existence of blood changes 
other than those commonly associated with lung disease. On inquiring 
into the state of the general herd, my attention was directed to one of 
the seventeen bullocks, which was noticed dull and ailing the day pre¬ 
viously. An examination of this animal afforded further confirmation ot 
of the existence of pleuro-pneumonia. The chief feature of pathological 
interest in this outbreak is the existence of anthrax and pleuro-pneu- 
