The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-02-01
IS THE CATTLE PLAGUE SMALLPOX I
Curious Medical Ejaculation in Englan d.


Curious Medical Speculation in Englan d.
The Loadon Lancet, the leading medi-
cal journal in England, CO n;ans the fol-
loving:
The report Of DR.. Murch:son's disseo-
tlons OF the diseased cattle, which ap-
peared in the Lancet as long ago as Au-
guat 2G, showed clearly that the rinder-
pest was net the pathological equivalent
OF human typhoid fever, and we elieve
We are correct in stating that this opin-
ion has been confirmed by every subse-
quent observer. From Dr. Murchison's
present communication, however, it is
obvious that there exists very strUUg
analogy, if not absolute identity, between
the rinderpest and small pox. The ar
guments by which this view is supported
deserve serious consideration. 1t appears
that in all cases Of cattle plague there is
an eruption on the skim sometimes pa
pular and postular, like that of variola;
at other times consisting of fattened ves-
lcles like those of cow-pOx. The two dis
eases also resemble one another in their
general sym ptOms and anatomical LESSONS,
in their period of incubation and dura-
ti0n and in their extreme contagiousness
and capability Of propagation by inocula-
ton. There are even some grounds for
believing that rinderpest may eommuni-
cate cow-poz to the human subject, and
the reason why this accident has not hap
pened oftener may be due, as DR.. MUIR
Gibson suggests, to the fact that most of
tL,o ,.,h. A.
tected by vaccination.
at also appears that the physicians
who SO carefully described the cattle pla-
que in the last century constantly alluded
to the eruption, and compared it to that of
small pox. If the view now referred to
be correct, it is impossible toover-estimate to
its Importance. 4 remedy is at once
placed in our hands for arrestitg the
spread of the cattle plague, which has al
ready come to be regarded as a great ma
tional calamity. We prevent the fatal
form of small pox in the human subject
by inducing mild form of the disease
through vaccination. If rinderpest be
severe form Of smallpox in cattle, Why
May 1t not also be prevented by inducing
in cattle the mild form Of the disease, or
ordinary cow-pox? This we know can
bo done by inoculating them with vaccine
lymph, or With the matter of human small
pox.
mo time ought to be lost in adopting
DIR. Murchison s suggestion, to ascertain
whether cattle, after such iDoculation, be
proof against the riaderpest In the
meantime valuable information might be
obtained from members of our profession
practising in those parts Of the country
where ordinary cowpox is known to pre-
vail. Many remarkable instances have
been recorded where individual cattle or
entire herds have escaped in the midst of
surrounding pestileuce. Can it ne shown
this exemption has been due to their hav-
ing suffered previously from the cow
pox! 1t seems, however, that the ordi-
nary COW pox has some years been dying
out in this country so that it has been
difficult to obtain fresh lymph direct from
the COW, and thus the cattle of this coua-
try are probably less protected than for
merly against the variola In severe
form. If this be so there is no reason
why vaccination should not be practiced
as commonly among cattle as among men.
| The above investig igations have been car
! ried out in connection with the expert
mental inquiries instituted at the instance
of the medical committee OF the Cattle
Plague Commission. Their former re-
commentator as to the arrest Of traffic
is now being urgently pressed on the
government by the farmers at large and
if the views enunciated by Dr. Murchi-
son should prove correct the value of the
service Of the Royal Commission will be
of the highest national Importance.