The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-01-22
Is the Cattle Plague smaII-Poxq

The London Lancet, the leading medical
journal in England, contains the following:
The report of DR.. Murchison's dssectious
Of the diseased cattle, which appeared in the
Lancet as long ago az August &C. showed
clearly that the riuderpest was not the patho-
logical equivalent of human typhoid fever,
aud we believe we are correct in stating that
this opinion has been confirmed by every sub
sequent observer. From DR.. Murchson's
present communication, however, it is obvious
that there exists very strong analogy, if not
absolute Identity, between the rinderpest and
smallpox. Tie arguments by which this
view Is supported deserves serious considera-
tion 1t appears that in all cases of cattle
p'ague there Is an eruption on the skin, some
times popular and postular, like that f va
riola at other times consisting of hattened
Veslcles like those of cow-pox. The two dis
eases also resemble one another in their gener-
al symptoms and anatomical lessons, in their
period OF incubation and duration, and in their
extreme contagiousness aud capability of pro-
pagatlon by incubation. There are even some
grounds for believing the rnderpest may COM
muulcate cow-pox to The human subject and
the reason why this accident has not happen
ell ofteiler may be due, as DR.. Murchisou sug-
SestS, to the fact that most OF tie inhabitants
vi this country are protected by vaccination.
1T also appears that that the physicians
who SO carefully described the cattle plague in
Tue last century constantly alluded t" the
eruption, and compared it 10 that of smallpox.
l. tue View now referred To be correct 3
impossible to over-estinate its ini ..rta . 4
remedy Is at once placed in our hands Tor ar
resting the spread Of the cattle plague, which
has already come to be regarded as a cr.at
national Calamity No 81.
form OF smallpox in the human subject by IN
duclng nrild form of the disease through
vaccination. If rinderpest be severe form
OF smallpox in cattle, why may it not also lie
prevented by inducing in cattle the mild form
OF the disease, or ordinary cow-pox? This we
Know eau be- done by luoculatlng them With
vaccine lymph, or with tie matter oI human
SMALLPOX.
NO time ought to be lost in adopting DR.
Murchlsons Suggestion to ascertain whethe
cattle, altef sucll lhocl alton, he proof a-Ai ISL
the rlndtrpest. In the mea time Va liable
attenuation might be oh aincd from nen,b rs
;! the p -sSaon practlsl < Ill thl.e parts
the untry wAero ordinary cow-p,x i, kn,vl .
u, prevail. Many remarkable lis.a ices ha5,
'een recorded where llntividri cattle or cllcr,
ierds have escaped in the nllA.t OF >urrouud-
lug pes lielce. Can II he sl,own this tXeApp-
oi'I HAS beeh due To their having suffered pre-
lousy u"ai sa W-f24? /, >e9.l,, he,&t we,
silae ne AlAA ,4lX as,aG sQ!lle Ntars
usf'i5vtyTar fi4s ~ MS country, tdt Ii las
3een tlmca!t ~ Oh ALI fresh yln3,il direct iron,
,ile COW, aud Ills the cattle oi tus cou5,tfg. are
probably ,ess protected tnaa formerly against
me yarola III severe form. Ii this br so,
there Is no reason why vaccination should not
be pracuced as coninlonly among cattle as
among men. The above Investigations lave
Deeu carried out in connection VITA tue expe- #
rlmenta inquiries instituted at the instance Of
tue medical COMMITTEE Of the Cattle Plague
Commission. Their former recommendation as
To the arrest OF traffic III cattle is l.ow being
earnestly pressed Oh the government at large;
and If the views enuuciated by Or. Murchison
should prove correct, the value OF the service
Of the royal commission will be Of the highest
national importance. ,s-,