sionally epizootic, or prevalent at the same time on several farms at no great distance, more commonly sporadic, or nearly solitary. It may be seen sometimes at several contiguous farms; at other times one or two farms, apparently under like circumstances of soil, situation, etc., amidst the prevailing disease, entirely escape its visitation. Many years may elapse before it recurs at a given farm or vicinity, although all the animals may have been changed in the meantime; I have known it to occur twice in five years in a particular vicinity, and at two contiguous farms, while at a third adjoining dairy, in all respect similar in local and other circumstances, it had not been known to exist for forty years. It is sometimes introduced into a dairy by recently purchased cows. I have twice known it to be so introduced by milch heifers. It is considered that the disease is peculiar to the milch cowthat it occurs primarily while the animal is in that conditionand that it is casually propagated to others by the hands of the milkers. But considering the general mildness of the disease, the fact of its being at times in some individuals entirely overlooked, and that its topical severity depends almost wholly on the rude tractions of the milkers, it would, perhaps, be going too far to assert its invariable and exclusive origin under the circumstances just mentioned; yet I have frequently witnessed the fact that dry heifers, dry cows, and milch cows milked by other hands, grazing in the same pastures, feeding in the same sheds and in contiguous stalls, remain exempt from the disease. Many intelligent dairymen believe that it occurs more frequently as a primary disease among milch heifers; but I have not been able to confirm this remark by my own observation. It does not appear to be less frequent on the hills than in the vale. It has been seen primarily on the stall-fed as well as on the grazing animal.

Origin of the Disease.-I have met with several intelligent dairymen, whose relatives had seen good reason to ascribe its occurence to the contagion of the equine vesicle, communicated

by the hands of the attendant of both animals; but very little of that disease has been noticed of late years, though I know of several farriers who have been affected from the horse, and resisted subsequent variclation or vaccination, and have seen a few who distinguish between equine vesicle and the grease, a recurrent disease--eczema impetiginodes—as it appears to me. For many years past, however, the spontaneous origin of the variolæ vaccine in the cow has not been doubted here. In all cases that I have noticed I never could discover the probability of any other source.

"There is much difficulty in determining with precision, at all times, whether the disease arises primarily in one or more individuals in the same dairy; most commonly, however, it appears to be solitary. The milkers pretend in general to point out the infecting individual; but as I have more than once detected the disease in a late stage on an animal not suspected of having it, I am not very prone to confide in their representations, unless my own inspection confirms or renders them probable."

Symptoms.--There are general symptoms of a mild fever, and the characteristic signs are purely local. The teats become painfnl and slightly swollen. In about three or four days, red, hard spots are seen, which soon appear circumscribed. They attain the size of a horse-bean, and milking becomes generally very painful to the animal. They rapidly increase in size and tenderness, and become charged with a limpid fluid, and are surrounded by a red base or areola. The limpid fluid becomes opaque and purulent, and the distinctive feature of the pustule is, that it has a depression on its summit. It is technically termed "umbilicated." It is most perfect about ten days after its first appearance.

Mr. Ceely has carefully examined the structure of the pustules, and finds the fluid enclosed in meshes, formed by fibres, which intercept the vesicle. A scab forms over the spot which is thrown off within the third week of the eruption.

Treatment. From the great soreness of the teat, cows cannot readily be milked, and it may be essential to introduce in the milk-duct a tube, in order to draw off the milk. The udder requires to be freely fomented, and the animal should, in some cases, have a mild aperient. If the congestion of the mamma, be very considerable, and the gland becomes hard, a large linseed meal poultice must be applied, containing about a drachm of extract of belladonna. This should be kept on for several hours, and perhaps repeated. Supporting the udder is often useful, holes being made in the bandage used for this purpose in order to pass through the teats, so that the milk may be often withdrawn.

CHOKING.

This accident is very common in cows, and is usually due to a piece of turnip, a potato, or other large body. Sometimes a sharp-pointed object becomes fixed in the gullet, and at others, but seldom, in cattle, dry farinaceous food, imperfectly salivated, fills up the passage and chokes the animal.

Symptoms. There are some general symptoms of choking which apply to all cases, and some special symptoms, dependent on the precise seat of the obstruction in the course of the gullet. The general symptoms are uneasiness, more or less difficulty in breathing, involuntary movements of the jaws, and flow of saliva from the mouth. If the animal drinks the liquid is ejected from the mouth and nose. Cows soon become hoven, and, indeed, the distension of the paunch by gas, which is so constant a symptom of choking, is the most serious complication, and calls for immediate relief. The special symptoms in the event of the obstruction being in the pharynx, consist in protruded head, abundant salivation, occasional spasmodic cough, great difficulty in breathing, haggard countenance and bloodshot eyes. By manipulation, either externally or through the mouth, the foreign object is detected in its true position. If the obstruction exists in the gullet, in its course down the neck, there is always a swelling on the left side indicating its

presence. The symptoms are usually not so severe as in pharyngeal choking, with the exception of the swelling of the paunch. When the foreign object is lodged in that part of the œsophagus which runs through the chest, the general symptoms are not very urgent at first, and the most important special symptom is the animal drinking a little, indeed, as much as the oesophagus will contain, and then by a spasmodic effort, as if in the act of vomiting, the fluid being thrown back out of the mouth. This form of choking is more rare than the others from the fact that the gullet widens as it approaches the paunch.

An accident incidental to choking, and occasionally due to the abuse of instruments in dislodging the obstruction, is laceration of the esophagus, whereby the obstructing mass passes into the surrounding areolar tissue, and the animal then can swallow. If, however, it is allowed food, and especially of gruel or a sloppy mash, a considerable quantity passes through the lacerations into the pouch formed outside the gullet. An abscess may then form, and the materials gradually thrown out; but there is much danger attending this accident; the offending mass requires to be removed, and the wound afterwards treated on surgical principles.

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In all cases of choking, give the animal a little water or oil. If the fluid be returned, try and remove the obstacle with the hand, if it exist in the throat. If, however, it has stuck lower down, the próbang is used. It is hollow, in order to allow of the escape of the gas contained in the paunch, as soon as the latter is penetrated. In some cases a pair of forceps may be of service in withdrawing a piece of turnip, or other hard substance. The instrument should be used with great care. Sometimes a cow feeder has been known to pass the handle of his whip, or a stiff rope, down the gullet of a cow, to thrust onwards a bit of turnip. Care should always be taken not to lacerate the oesophagus, and sometimes, with a little patience the obstacle is removed, without much interference on the par of the attendant on the animal.

In cases of obstruction in the cervical portions of the sophagus, should the pressing down or removal of the mass prove impossible, cesophagatomy must be performed. The operation is very simple when the swelling produced by the obstruction is apparent, but it is much more difficult in cases of choking with the offending substance in the thoracic portion of the œsophagus, when it is essential to open the latter tube, and pass a flexible reed or probang down to push on the obstacle.

After choking, keep the animal on sloppy diet, and about ten days later, it is not uncommon to witness some unpleasant symptoms, and even a recurrence of the accident. This is due to irritation and ulceration in the oesophagus, which requires careful treatment. The animal must be allowed frequent draughts of tepid water, and should be drenched with thin gruel, in which a little tincture of myrrh may be advantageously poured. A blister should be applied along the throat, and laxatives may also be exhibited.

TYMPANITIS, HOVE OR BLOWN.

This condition, due to an accumulation of gas in the rumen or paunch, invariably occurs if the oesophagus be obstructed; but it is likewise seen under other circumstances, such as when cattle are fed on damp grass, or luxuriant clover; and indeed on any food which may ferment rather actively in the stomach.

The symptoms of tympanitis are a swelling on the left side of the belly, which, if struck, proves resonant, like a drum. The animal has a very anxious look, breathes heavily; and, indeed, suffocation is threatened.

In all these cases a stimulant should be given at once. The best is hartshorn, an ounce of which may be mixed with a quart of cold water and administered. This tends to neutralize the gas evolved in the paunch. Whiskey, or other alcoholic liquor, may be given in ounce or two ounce doses, but more reliance is to be placed on the neutralizing agents and evacuants; so that if the ammonia does not answer, a purgative must be given; and if several hours have elapsed, and