( 7 )
we would refer him to Professor Simonds' evidence given before a Parliamentary
" Committee on contagious diseases bill" and his " report on the cattle plague:" and a
paper by Mr. Renault, Director of Alford, read before the Central Society of Agriculture
of France, all of which are contained in the " Veterinarian" for 1857-58 and 1859, and in an
article headed "cattle plague" in the Veterinarian, July 1st, 1857, will be found a very full
description of the Rinderpest, which we had transcribed, but now exclude from this paper, as
we fear extending it to too great length. These articles are well worthy the perusal of those
interested in this enquiry, and we believe that the symptoms described in the " Veterinarian"
proves the identity of the two diseases, the " Rinderpest" and the Calcutta Epizootic
pf 1864.
It has been remarked in England by Professors Simonds, Gamgee and others, that the
present English Epizootic is not only the "Rinderpest," but that it was known in England
in 1745, and was ruinously destructive throughout the country.
Existing for several
years, (12) in spite of the most stringent sanitary laws enacted and rigidly enforced with the
view of checking its spread, it was stated to have been then imported from Holland by two
diseased calves: it is now reported to have been brought by foreign cattle into Islington
market. The general opinion is, that it is an imported and infectious disease, but on the
other hand there are many who insist upon its originating within the country, and is not
an imported disease, and this question is now being very warmly discussed. The descriptions
given of the symptoms are, however, very similar, and admit of little or no misunderstanding
or doubt as to the nature of the disease when it shows itself. We select amongst numerous
reported symptoms, furnished by men of eminence, the following which are published by order
of the Privy Council. The identity of the symptoms, with those recorded by Mr. Rutherford
in this paper, are remarkable, and again confirm our opinion of the nature of the disease
which we observed here in 1864.
The following is copied from the Evening Mail of August 7th, 1865.
" Description of the symptoms of the disease before referred to."
" Variations in the earliest indications of the disease will be manifested; these depending
somewhat on the severity of the attack, but more especially on the circumstance as to whether
the digestive or respiratory system is the chief focus of the malady.
As soon as the affection declares itself, the animal ceases to take any kind of food, and
in most cases even refuses water ; rumination is suspended, and the animal stands with its
head drooping and its ears drawn back. If made to move, it shows great prostration of
strength, and frequently staggers as if about to fall. The skin is hot in places, and often
remarkably so between the limbs, the hind ones in particular.
An exudation early takes place from these parts, and is succeeded by cracks and sores.
The hair is staring, especially along the upper part of the neck, shoulders, and back. The
extremities are cold, even at the commencement of the disease, and in a latter stage the
increased heat of the surface of the body gives place to a remarkable coldness, especially along
the course of the spine.
Tears trickle from the eyes, which are red and expressive of suffering, and a watery
discharge flows early from the nostrils. There is a continuous increase of these secretions,
which become more or less purulent in. the advanced state of the malady. The mouth is
hot, red, and ' inflamed,' often presenting here and there raw-looking spots, especially on the
inner side of the lips and along the roof. The breath is foetid. The respiration is increased,
and generally accompanied with a moan in the advanced stages. A slight cough is also
present in some instances. The pulse is quick and weak and scarcely to be felt, excepting at
the heart, even at the commencement of the disease.
The bowels are sometimes torpid at the outset, but Diarrhœa leading to Dysentery mostly
follows; the evacuations being slimy, liquid, and of a dirty yellow colour, occasionally tinged
with blood. Tenesmus is likewise present as a rule. Slight tremors of the muscles of the
shoulders and thighs are to be observed in some cases, and so also is an emphysematous
condition of the skin along the upper part of the back. In milch cows the secretion of milk
is quickly arrested, a remarkable diminution in the quantity taking place as one of the early
indications of the attack. As the disease advances towards a fatal termination the prostration
of the vital powers becomes more marked ; the breathing short, quick, and more painful, the alvine
evacuations more fœtid and more slimy, and the surface of the body deathly cold. The animal
will sometimes sink as early as twelve hours from the commencement of the attack ; but in
many cases the disease will be protracted to the fifth or sixth, and occasionally to the
eighth or ninth day.
The period of incubation of the disease is found to vary, the majority of animals sicken-
ing on the tenth day after exposure to the infection, but some have been attacked on the
seventh day."
Nothing can be more convincing than the above description, tallying almost verbatim
with those we have given of the symptoms of the Calcutta Epizootic. The diseases are, we
consider, one and the same. Mr. Rutherford's memorandum was written fifteen months since :
Mr. Floyd's ten months since ; the symptons just copied from the Evening Mail not two