( 8 )
months ago, and Mr. Greenhill, who has paid much attention to the disease and has treated
a vast number of cases, gives a similar description.
It would be highly interesting to trace the roads by which this Epizootic has spread
itself over the old world, and doubtless ere long we shall ransack its origin and spread with
the same accuracy as the origin and spread of Epidemic Cholera has been investigated and
made known. It is worthy of remark that the cattle disease which devastated Egypt, broke
out in that country a few weeks after its disappearance here, and we are informed by the
Times that that Epizootic carried off no less than 1,700,000 head of cattle.—(Evening
Mail, August 7.)
Mr. Rutherford made post-mortem examinations of a great number—with one or two
exceptions—all of his cases, and he has kindly placed his notes at our disposal; they will be read
with interest by those who are prosecuting the subject. He remarks : "The principal changes
were confined to the mucus membrane of the alimentary tract. The tongue in all cases is swollen,
particularly towards its base, and throughout its whole substance, I observed effusion into
and discoloration of the muscular substance. The superior investing membrane in all cases was
separated from the substance of the tongne by effusion, was very much thickened and was
covered with a thick viscid fetid secretion, or products of inflamation, apparently muco-perulent.
The mucus membrane of the pharynx was similarly inflamed, and presented the same
characters, being thickened and covered with a greyish exudation. In all cases, these
appearances extended into the nasal passages, producing throughout appearances some-
what modified towards the nostrils. In some cases small abrasions were observed on the
Schneiderian membrane. I noted the fact of immense quantities of small bodies resembling
the ova of flies covering the mucus membrane of the posterior nares and pharynx. In most
cases the inflammatory signs were traceable into the larynx, and thence more or less modified
into the trachea, seldom further. From the pharynx the appearances above noted were to be
easily traced along the œsophagus into the first and second stomachs and into the third
stomach; here, in many cases, the food was found caked as hard as in the disease known at
home as ' Fardel bound.' This appearance is owing to the non-swallowing of fluids, the
arrest of secretion and functions of the third stomach. In all cases the fourth or true stomach
was very seriously affected ; it was generally empty, with the exception of a little variously
coloured liquid; the mucus coat red, in patches dark red, swollen and thickened and very
easily detached from the muscular coat. In many cases bile was plentiful in the stomach, as
also in the duodenum, which intestine with the jejunum and ileum was affected similarly
as, but more intensely than the stomach; ulcerated patches were frequently met with, but
never any deep ulcers, but rather rough, irregular edged depressions on the mucus membrane,
with dark red circumferences. The large intestines were generally empty and but slightly
affected, with the exception of the rectum, which generally exhibited signs of great irritation.
The liver was in all cases highly congested, and even enlarged. The kidneys and other viscera
were in no wise affected. The blood was in a grumous state."
Mr. Greenhill also made post-mortem examinations of very numerous cases which came
under his observation and treatment, and he gives the following as the chief and most important
of the diseased appearances noted. " The back part of the tongue and throat inflamed; mucus
membrane of the laryux and air passages inflamed ; heart soft in texture ; liver congested, and the
whole of the fourth stomach greatly inflamed with patches of a dark purple hue, and abrasions
of the mucus membrane all along the alimentary canal. The rectum for about three feet from
the anus inflamed and studded with black patches. The large intestines healthy; kidneys
healthy."
These post-mortem appearances correspond in many respects, and indeed, generally, with
those met with by Professor Simonds, and described in his evidence before the Parliamentary
Committee before alluded to. They indicate a typhoid or " enteric" condition, and bear out
to a very considerable extent the idea that has been advanced that this disease is a " Typhoid
Fever."
To those who have read the reports and evidence of Professor Simonds published in the
" Veterinarian on the Rinderpest," also the reports furnished by the Commissioners and
Magistrates throughout Bengal of the cattle diseases, observed in their several Districts espe-
cially noticed in this paper, our own remarks regarding the Calcutta Epizootic of 1864, and
the recent accounts of the disease now raging in England, it will not be a matter of surprise
to learn our complete inability to recommend with confidence any one particular treatment as
likely to be generally attended with successful results. We have already recorded the almost
universal fatality amongst all the cattle submitted to treatment. At one period every case died,
but towards the decline of the Epizootic many cases did well. Some of these exhibited
the disease in a marked form, but by great care and attention made a slow, tedious, but at length
complete recovery; and from these we may be permitted to recommend a course of treatment,
which in mild cases will be found to be generally successful, and certainly worthy of trial in
even the most hopeless. We would venture to hope also, that as the nature of the disease is
more minutely investigated, and its pathology understood, a corresponding advance will be made
in its treatment, and this, we feel persuaded, will ere long be the result of the general dis-
cussion and deep interest the disease is at present commanding in England.