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of the Madras Presidency and nearly all of Bengal, viz., Burdwan, Nuddea, Rajshahye Patna,
Chittagong, Bhaugulpore, Dacca, Cuttack, Assam, Chota Nagpore, Cachar, Darjeeling, and
were the enquiry extended to the N. W. Provinces and the Punjab, it is believed that
reports similar to those submitted by the Bengal Officers would be furnished, and Mr. Floyd's
statement, founded upon information given him by Natives belonging to the North-West,
that a similar disease has been for years known there, would receive confirmation.
When it is borne in mind that the various reports above alluded to are each an analysis of
many reports furnished by the Magistrates attached to the several Districts in the extensive
Divisions mentioned, we should a priori expect to find a great variety of description and
not a little actual inaccuracy, such however is not the case, and we believe that the general
similarity of these reports is owing to the fact that the Natives, as a rule, describe all Epizootics,
or Cattle Plagues, as Small-pox,—Ghootee or Bussunt; and this is particularly exemplified in
Mr. Floyd's memorandum ; he says, speaking of his cow, that he had handed over to the Natives
for treatment; " they said she had the Matha," Small-pox : further, we have known a disease
attacking numerous heads of cattle in Calcutta, and carrying off large numbers, described as
Bussunt or Ghootee or Small-pox. Under this name it was for years known as existing amongst
the cattle belonging to the Municipality of this city, and it was only in 1861, when a veterinary
surgeon was, on our recommendation, appointed to the care of the municipal cattle, that the
disease was accurately described and recognized, not as a Variola or Small-pox, but as a most
alarming, fatal and highly infectious Epizootic, viz., the "Eczema Epizootica" or Apthous Epizoo-
tic, or " foot and mouth disease" of Veterinary Pathologists. It is this Epizootic which has
been so universally described, and in terms of extraordinary similarity as the disease which has
reckoned its victims by tens of thousands throughout India, and with which the Epizootic
which appeared in Calcutta and elsewhere has been, we believe, not unfrequently mixed up and
confounded; the two diseases have many features in common, but they are entirely different
in their nature. The "Eczema Epizootic," the animal is hot, listless, exhibits all the
symptoms of fever, and is lame : the feet high up in the cleft of the hoof are early affected ;
vesicles are frequently observed on various parts of the body, especially between the thighs;
the mouth becomes affected, dysentery supervenes, and if allowed to arrive at this advanced
stage, the majority die; but the disease if early recognized is very amenable to treatment.
From our own experience we believe it selects the ill-fed, over-worked, and weakened consti-
tution. Comparing these symptoms with those given of the Calcutta Epizootic of 1864, it
cannot be a matter of surprise that the two diseases have been confounded.
Captain Nelson describes the Cattle Disease in the Madras Presidency thus: " The
disease in question, which is now reducing the heads by half, shews itself first in a refusal of
food ; the ears droop ; the eyes run water; purging commences, which in a few days becomes a
bloody-flux; and the whole body is covered with pustules: the animal dies between the fifth
and tenth days, when with a piece of cloth you may sweep the body completely free of hair
and cuticle, it comes off as if it had been scalded." This description tallies completely in
certain well marked features with the symptoms given of the Calcutta Epizootic, but it clearly
and indisputably, we consider, establishes the difference, in that the animal is ''covered with
pustules," &c. Captain Nelson is describing the " Epizootic Eczema," or, as it is commonly
called in England the " foot and mouth disease," and we venture, without casting the least
disparagement on Captain Nelson's observations, to hint that, had the Epizootic he has so well
described been watched by a veterinary surgeon, we should have learnt, in addition, that the
feet were early affected, even though actual lameness had not resulted.
Captain Campbell, Deputy Commissioner of Nowgong, describes an Epizootic in his
District thus : " On referring to the records of this Office, I find that in the year 1853, from
January to June, no less than 21,62.5 head of cattle died. During the above period Cholera
was raging to a great extent, and carried off 9,060 persons; consequently the Natives, I asked
about it, say it was the same disease that carried off the cattle. The symptoms appear to have
been a swelling of the tongue, which portruded from the mouth, great purging, and the animal
was generally dead in. two days. I cannot discover that there was any resemblance to
Small-pox, as appears to be the case at Madras." Here we are evidently dealing with a
disease distinct from that described by Captain Nelson ; and we are of opinion that it was of
the nature of the Calcutta Epizootic.
From Jessore, a District which suffers much yearly from extensive mortality of cattle,
we have Mr. Oliphant writing as follows :—" It (the Cattle Disease) is known by the name
' Mardrishtee,' which means the look of mother " Shetala," the Goddess of Small-pox; and
the first symptoms which generally show themselves, are a disinclination to eat food, a blood
colouring of the urine, and the breaking out of pustules on the body; and these are followed
by others mentioned by Captain Nelson." Mr. Oliphant proceeds to say that the disease is
considered fatal, and mentions the means used for effecting a cure or arresting its progress.
This disease is, we feel persuaded, "the Eczema Epizootica." Mr. Oliphant, however, goes on with
his investigation, and says—"There is, however, another disease in this part of the country
very similar to the above, but much more common, called 'Puschima,' probably because it
was supposed to have travelled from the West, and a large number of cattle have fallen victims