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'IJie Cowiiry Goitlcniaiis Magazine 



rush and write their testimony of inaccurate 

 observation, and ignorance of things in medi- 

 cal science as before. Banished from Scot- 

 land by human beings, it now has seized 

 upon animals, and for pleuro-pneumonia; 

 or the lung disease of cattle, it is said to be 

 '• the perfect cure." At a harvest home, held 

 at Hitchin some time ago by some good 

 men with large hearts, but, unfortunately for 

 science, possessing an imperfect acquaintance 

 with the morbid anatomy and pathology of 

 contagious pleuro-pneumonia, the welcome 

 tidings was announced that a cure is now 

 found for the disease, which proves to be a 

 fungus on the lungs. Would that we could 

 hail this as authentic intelligence, but, alas ! 

 sulphur in all its forms has been tried for 

 animals, and in every case of contagious 

 pleuro-pneumonia has failed ; therefore if the 

 authors of the second genesis of sulphur- 

 cunng have witnessed any good effects, we 

 can only come to one conclusion, which is, 

 the affected animals were not affected by the 

 lung disease now stalking through the land. 



As we have pointed out on various occa- 

 sions in our columns, there are two kinds of 

 pleuro-pneumonia : — one the common native 

 or indigenous, simple and curable form, 

 which frequently runs its course mildly, and 

 disappears altogether without treatment ; and 

 the other, the epizootic or contagious form, 

 of foreign origin, which is usually fatal to the 

 extent of 50 per cent, and for which no cure 

 has yet been found. In both cases there are 



similar /(?j-/ uwricm appearances, and the false 

 membranes found adherent to the surface of 

 the lungs, which have been pronounced as 

 " fungous " is mostly present as an evidence 

 of the amount and character of the inflam- 

 matory action that has been going on. 

 How the fumes of burning sulphur are 

 to reach this mass of morbid produc- 

 tion, we are not informed, as anatomy 

 proves that in health and disease there 

 is no direct passage to them. When we hear 

 statements indicating a positive ignorance of 

 one of the simplest truths in anatomy, we 

 may be always certain that the collateral 

 affirmations of a physiological or pathological 

 nature are similarly constituted, and have to 

 regret that such should go abroad as truths, 

 which are not disproved until much patience, 

 time, and money are lost. 



We should be sorry to frustrate the progress 

 of truth in the work of eradicating such a 

 fearful disease from the stock of our kingdom, 

 but after many years' experience with every 

 available means — sulphur included — nothing, 

 we are compelled to admit, has yet cured 

 contagious pleuro - pneumonia. The in- 

 digenous form, or some bronchial attack, we 

 believe, was mistaken at Hitchin for the con- 

 tagious variety, and so errors are propagated 

 daily, but if our readers are hard of belief, 

 they may test the remedy and judge for them- 

 selves. Practical proof is worth a bushel of 

 theory, but, we must also add, practice 

 without theory is a blind guide. 



