The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1866-01-30
II. 1he CattIe Plague small Poxr

The London Lancet, the leading medical
journal in England, contains the following
THE report of DR.. Murchisons dlssec-
tions of the diseased cattle, which appeared
in the Lancet as long ago as August =
/ showed clearly that the rinderpest was not
the pathological equivalent OF human
typhoid fever, and we believe we are correct
in saving that this opinion has been con
frmed by every subsequent observer. From
Dr. MuTchison's present communication,
( however, it is obvious that there exists a
/ very strong analogy, if not absolute iden-
tity, between the Tinderpest and small pOX.
! THE arguments by which this view is
supported deserves serious consideration.
/ 1t appears that in all cases of cattle plague
| there is an eruption on the skin, sometimes
popular and postular, like that of variola
| at other times consisting OF 1iattened YES
icles like those of c0w-pOX. The two dis
eases also resemble one another in their
general symptoms and anatomical LESSONS,
in their period of incubation and duration.
and in their extreme contagiousness and
capability Of propagation by incubation
! There are even some grounds for believing
that rinderpest may communicate cow-pox
to the human subject, and the reason why
| this accident has not happened oftener may
be due, as DIR. Murchson suggests, to the
fact that most of the inhabitants Of this
country are protected by vaccination.
1T also appears that the physician who
50 carefully described the cattle plague 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 ii is
impossible to over estimate its importance. A
remedy is at once placed In our hands tor
arresting the spread of the cattle plague
which has already come to be regarded as a
great national calamity. We prevent the
fatal form of small p0X in the human sub
iect by inducing a mild form of the disease
through vaccination. If rinderPest be a
severe form of small poX in cattle, why may
it not also be prevented by inducing in the
cattle the mild form of the disease, or ordi
nary COW pox? This We know can be done
by innOCulating them with vaccine lymph
or with the matter Of human small poX!
mo time ought to be lost in adopting DR.
Murchison's suggestiOn,t to ascertain whether
cattle, after such NEGOTIATIONS, be proof
against the rinderpest. In the meantime,
valuable information might be obtained
from members of our profession practicing
in those parts Of the country where ordi-
nary COW pOX is known to prevail Many
remarkable instances have been recorded
where individual cattle or entire herds have
escaped in the midst of surrounding pesti-
lence. Can it be shown this exemption has
been due to their having suffered previously
from cow-pox 1t see:ns, however, that the
ordinary cow-poX has for some years been
dying ont in this country, so that It has
been difficult to obtain fresh lymph direct
from the COW, and thus the cattle Of this
country are probably less protected than
formerly against the yariola il severe form. .
IF this be so, there is no reason why vac
cination should not be practiced as com
monty among cattle as among men. The
above Investigations have been carried out
in connection with the experimental in
quiries instituted at the instance OF the +.
medical committee of the Cattle Plague /.
Commission. Their former recommends +.
ton as to the arrest of the traffic in cattle is .
now being urgently pressed on the Govern /
ment by the farmers at large; and if the I
views enunciated by Or. Murchison shonld .
prove correct, the value of the service of
the Royal Commission will be of the highest +
national Importance"