The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-01-18
Is the Cattle Plague Smallpox 2

CURIOUS MEDICAL sPECULATIoNs IN ENGLAND.
The London Lancet, the leading medical jour
nal in England, contains the folio Wing:-
'sThe report of DR.. Murchison's dIssections of
the diseased cattle, which appeared in the
Lancet as long ago as August 70, showed clearly
that the rinderpest was not the pathological
equivalent of human typhoid fever, and we
believe we are correct in stating that this opinion
has been confirmed by every subsequent OBJ
server. From Dr. Murchison's present comInu-
nication, however, it is obvious that there exists
a very strong analogy, If not absolute identity,
between the rinderpest and smallpox. The
arguments by which this view is supported
deserve serious consideration 1t appears that
in all cases of cattle plague there is an eruption
on the skin, sometimes papuar and postular,
like that OF variola; at other times consisting of
tiattened Vesicles like those OF cowpoX. The
two diseases 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 inoculation. There are even
some grounds for believing that rinderpest may
communicate Cowpox to the human subject,
and the reason why this accident has not hap
pened oftener may be due, as DR.. Murchson
suggests to the fact that most OF the inhabitants
OF this country are protected by vaccination.
at also appears that the physicians who so
carefully described the cattle plague in the last
century constantly alluded to the eruption, and
compared it to that of smallpox. If the view
now referred to be correct, it is impossible to
overestimate its importance. remedy is at
once placed in our hands tor arresting the
spread of the cattle plague which has already
come to be regarded as great national calamity.
We prevent the fatal form of smallpox in the
human subject by inducing mild form OF the
disease through vaccination. II rinderpest be a
severe form of smallpox in cattle, why may it
not also be prevented by inducing in cattle the
mild form of the disease, OF ordinary cowpoX?
This we know can be done by inoculating them
with vaccine lymph. or with the matter OF human
smallpox.
''No time ought to be lost in adopting DR.. Muir
chison's suggestion, TO ascertain whether cattle,
after such inoculatiOns, be proof against the
rinderpest In the meantime valuable informa-
ton might be obtained from members of our pro.
tession practising IN those parts of the country
where ordinary cowpoX is known TO prevail
Many remarkable instances have been recorded
where individual cattle or entire herds have
escaped in the midst of surrounding pestience.
Can it be shown this exemption has been due to
their having suffered previously from the cow
poXY 1t seems, however, that the ordinary
cowpoX has for some years been dying out in
this country, so that IL has been difficult to OBJ
tain fresh lymph direct from the COW, and thus
the cattle of this country less projected than
formerly against the valiola in a severe form.
If this be so, there is no reason why vaccination
should not be practised as commonly among
cattle as among men. The above Investigations
have been carried out in connection with the
experimental inquiries instituted at the instance
of the Medical Committee of the Cattle Plague
Commission. Their former recommendation as
TO the arrest of traffic in cattle is now bene
urgently pressed on the Government by the
farmers at large; and il the views enunciated by
DIR. Murchison should prove correct, the value
of the service of the Royal Commission win be
of the highest national importance"