The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-02-14
Period orIncubation.

According to the general acccptation
of this term, the time Of incubation of an
infectious disease is the period which
elapses between the introduction Of the
virus into the system, and the manifesto
ton of symptoms which indicate the ex-
istence of the disease. In this ordinary
sense the expression is now used Some
difficulty usually presents itself in refer
ence to the determination Of the precise
moment of infection. 1t does not follow
that healthy animals herded with diseased
ones should at once become the subjects
of the malady on the contrary, they
NAV resist its influences for some time,
and therefore, conclusions which are drawn
from observations Of the natural progress
of an infectious disease are often errone.
Gus, and always doubtful.
Direct transmission Of the virus into
the system of healthy animal furnishes
the only reliable means of ascertaining
with absolute certainty the moment ofin.
lection. Tested in this manner, the per.
iod Of incubation of eczema ranges from
thirty-six to forty-eight hours. If the rise
Of temperature be taken as a positive
symptom which it is not, the incubation
stage will be much shortened, as the ele.
walton of internal heat sometimes precedes
by twelve hours the formation of vesiclea
in the feet or mouth. The extremely ra-
pid action of the virus is evident from
the fact that symptoms of fever are ap-
parent in thirty hours after incubation and
the full development of the the charac-
teristic signs,-the formation Of vesicles,
is seldom delayed beyond the fourth
day.
Professor Smmonds ascertained as
early as 1889, that the introduction of a
small portion of hay saturated with infec-
ted saliva into the mouth of healthy
animal, caused the formation of vesicles
in the mouth and feet in forty hours =
milk from diseased COW given warm to
pigs caused the disease in three days.
Experiments with hay saturated with
saliva were repeated by Us in 1867, with
the usual result the animal took the
disease in mild form, and completely
recovered in the course of a week after in.
fiction.
FAILURE OF INNoCULATIoN.
lnnoculation by puucture, and the in.
PRODUCTION of the contents of vesicles, fail.
ed to produce any effects in cows, sheep
and pigs.
These observations have an important
economic and judicial bearing, because
they enable the veterinary pathologist to
assert in reference to an outbreak Of
eczema in any locality that the affection
was in some way communicated not more
than four days prior to the development
of the disease.
TREATMENT AND REMEDIES.
1st. Enforce stringent sanitary laws.
I'd. No attempt, unless under compe'
tent direction, should be made to open the
mouth, or to horn down any fluids, ali
mentary or medical 1.-THE fever is very
severe, ain ounce of bicarbonate of potash
may be Dissolved in the drink water, anc
q Va thS paw W iOi
parts Of water,-may be syringcd ovel
the feet frequently, for the purpose o
keeping them clean and cool. The magic
healing prepared by DR.. A. j. Hopkins
Of Providence, r. l., made into solution
and syringed into the mouth and fee
several times day, arrests the disease a
once, with slight loss of flesh. | should
recommend it to all who are troubled
with the malady. TONES and stimulant
are necessary, when the disease assumes
low form of fever, and they are best ad
ministrated in the food Salts of Iror
and stout may be employed with advant
age in these cases. 1t will be rarely ne
cessary to give other tonics than properl,
prepared and nutritious food.
A. BAssETT,
Veterinary Surgeon.
242 India St., Providence, r. l., Jan
IL, 1871.