The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-22 00:00:00

Treatment of the , Cattle Plague.

A number of gentlemen, among whom are Mr.
James_Caird, the Earl of Albemarle, the Duke of
Beaufort, Lord Burghley, Lord Bury, Lord Elcho, the
Earl of Essex, Sir Edward Kerrison, Bart., the
Marquis of Lansdowne, Sir William Miles, Bart.,
the Duke of Richmond, and others, have formed an
association for the trial and preventive treatment of
the cattle plague by the homceopathic method. In
the memorandum of their association they observe
that while in this country the general impression
seemed to be that all remedial measures against the
cattle plague were unavailing, and that in order to
limit the extension of the disease the only resource
was the destruction of the affected animals, a report
arrived from Holland that a certain amount of suc-
cess had attended preventiveand curative treatment
by the administration of homceopathic medicines.
On investigation this report appeared to be so well
founded as to make it desirable that this method
should receive a fair and full trial here. With this
object certain noblemen and gentlemen, not all of
them homoeopathists, have formed themselves into
an association together with the officers and council
of the British Homoeopathic Society in London,
with the view of affording assistance and advice to
those who might be desirous of obtaining informa-
tion as to the mode of putting this treatment in
practice. The great mortality which has charac-
terised the disease in this country, and the admitted
want of any authoritative guidance as to treatment,
appears to offer a fitting opportunity for such inter-
vention. The directions now issued are not put
forward as a certain cure for the disease. They are
founded upon a knowledge of remedies the action of
which has been, as observed in man and animals,
both in health and disease, and which in Holland and
in this country had already proved beneficial in the
treatment of the cattle plague. The disease may
alter its type and require a change of treatment, and
more exact information may induce the medical
body of the association to modify their directions
4 from time to time. In order to judge of their effects
it is of the utmost importance that accurate returns
of the result should be sent to the association. With
this object blank forms will be distributed with these
directions, and all who make trial of the method are
earnestly requested to fill up the forms, and send
them to the secretary, Mr. Ralph Buchan, at the
offices of the association, 6, Adelphi-terrace, Strand.
The following directions are intended chiefly for
the guidance of non-professional persons :-
1. Preventive Medicine.—Arsenicum album, dose
10 drops of the 3d dilution daily, given in a table-
spoonful of water. If a large herd is to be treated,
mix 12 drachms in two quarts of water, and give
one tablespoonful of the mixture for a dose. This
should be given to all cattle in the infected district
and its neighbourhood, and to all cattle which have
been exposed to infection.
2. In case of an attack, send for the nearest vete-
rinary surgeon practising homoeopathy, or one who
will undertake to carry out the treatment. If
neither of these is within reach—it being of the
utmost importance to lose no time- -as soon as the
animal shows the first symptoms, which generally
are swelling and redness of the nostrils, hanging
the head, alteration of the natural heat of the ears,
horns, and skin, diminished appetite—and in cows,
redness of the vulva or bearing, and diminution of
the milk, give belladonna, 10 drops of the third
dilution in a tablespoonful of water every two hours
for 21 hours, and if the animal gets no worse, con-
tinue this medicine for two or three days or longer,
only giving the dose every four hours, or, as the
symptoms decline, every eight hours.
3. If the attack increases in severity.—Should
unfavourable symptoms appear after this medicine
has been given 24 hours, then give arsenicum album
(3d dilution) ten drops every three hours. These
symptoms are as follow :—Great and irritating dis-
charge from the nostrils ; shivering with alternate
cold and heat of surface, great thirst, feeble pulse,
loss of muscular power, inflammation and swelling of
the eyes, with great secretion of tears ; dribbling of
mucus from the mouth, with red spots on the gums
and roof of the mouth ; foul breath, with or without
great looseness of the bowels, slimy evacuations,
with very offensive smell ; tenderness and indica-
tions of pain in the belly.
4. Supervention of other Symptoms.—lf, during
the course of the disease, the muscles of the shoulders
and hind quarters twitch and jerk, the animal has a
staggering gait, and a paralytic appearance of the
limbs on getting up, with vesicular spots, like small
blisters, in the mouth and nostrils, give rhus toxico-
dendron, 3d dilution, 10 drops in a tablespoonful of
water every three hours, and if improvement sets in,
continue the medicine ; if no improvement, after 24
hours, return to the arsenicum.
5. When the Lungs are affected—lf the lungs
appear to be more affected than any other organ,
the breathing quick and difficult, with wheezing and
rattling in the windpipe and frequent cough, give
phosphorus, 3d dilution, 10 drops every three hours,
• for 24, 36, or 48 hours ; after which return to the
arsenicum.
6. Symptoms like " Hove" occur—lf the animal
appears as if "hove," with oppressed breathing and
groaning as the chief symptoms, give ammonium
causticum, 10 drops, 3d dilution, every two hours,
till these symptoms abate.
7. For Weakening Diarrhoea—Sometimes al-
though the animal is recovering, a weakening diar-
rhoea continues or sets in—give phosphoric acid, 3d
dilution, 10 drops three times a day.
8. External Bathing and Washing—The nose,
mouth, oyes, and vulva to be washed three or four
times a day with tepid water.
9. Diet—ln the Acute Stage—Abstain from giv-
ing ordinary food, and give only gruels of oatmeal
or other farinaceous substances. Grains and distillers'
wash on no account to be given during any period
of the disease. In the Convalescent Stage—Return
very gradually to ordinary food. Hay and green
food to be sparingly given.
10. Supplementary Directions—The greatest
cleanliness, careful attention and nursing of the sick
animals are absolutely necessary. Litter and dung
to be frequently and carefully removed—the use of
111‘Dougal's disinfecting powder is strongly recom-
mended. The farmer or hisbailiff should superintend
the giving of the medicines at the proper time, as
cattle are often lost from inattention to this point.
Great care should be taken to prevent any commu-
nication between the sick and healthy animals, Ani-
mals thatare recovering shouldbekept separate from
the healthy, as the discharge from the nose, mouth,
and eyes continue for some time, and may convey
infection. The office of the association is open
daily from 10 to 4, where all communications may
be addressed.

The accounts from the provinces generally are to
the effect that the plague continues its ravages on
an increased rather than a reduced scale. Welearn
from the Surrey Standard that on Friday last four
beasts were washed ashore in front of the town of
Seaford. The local authorities appreciating the
danger of allowing them to remain one moment
longer than possible, at once gave orders for their
disposal, and they were buried six feet deep and
covered with quick lime. On the following day in-
formation was forwarded to the police by the coast-
guard authorities at Newhaven that between 12 and
1 p.m. a cow and a calf had been washed ashore
near the harbour, but before they could be secured
the calf had been washed away by the tide. Pre-
parations were made for burying the cow, but in
the mean time some over sharp fellow cut her open
and secured about 521bs. of fat, which lie carried
away and sold to George Bravery, a marine store
dealer for 65. 6d. It was feared the calf was washed
into the river with the tide and had floated towards
Lewes, but the river has been searched up as high
as Lewes without its being seen. Now, the ques-
tion naturally occurs to us, how came the beasts on
the sea shore ? And the only reasonable answer
which presents itself is that they must have beCn
thrown overboard from some vessel passing in the
channel. There has been no weather such as would
warrant the idea that they had been cast over from
a vessel in distress, and had they floated from a
wreck, fragments of the vessel would probably have
accompanied them to shore ; therefore, there is too
much reason to think that the animals were intended
for the English market, that they were found to be
diseased before they reached their destination, and
were consequently disposed of in the sea.