Absence of Wasps. — Cure for Glanders. 235 



sands of nests were destroyed in the surrounding neighbour- 

 hood. Hornets were likewise more common than usual. In 

 1822 the wasps again appeared at the usual time, but in no 

 very prodigious quantities. Last year both wasps and hornets 

 were again plentiful. The country abounded with them far 

 and wide, and as usual a great many nests were destroyed. 

 This present season has not produced above one single wasp, 

 at least as far as my observations have extended. Having 

 travelled during the last fortnight on the continent, I noticed 

 the same total absence of wasps and hornets. A single in- 

 stance occurred of a wasp entering the carriage in which I 

 was travelling in Flanders, which was noticed as a curiosity, 

 no others having been seen. On my return I found that not 

 a single wasp had as yet been seen here. Whether or no the 

 same scarcity of insects usually so troublesome at this time 

 has been observed in remote countries, I am unable to say; but 

 the observations of your correspondents in different parts of 

 Europe would be interesting: for there is an old saying that 

 plenty of wasps indicates plenty of fruit; and this has cer- 

 tainly been a very bad year for most sorts of fruit both in the 

 British Isles and on the Continent, at least in France, Flan- 

 ders, and the more temperate parts of it. I could relate si- 

 milar failures in the expected appearance of other sorts of in- 

 sects in particular seasons, if it were necessary. The cause of 

 their absence is curious. Are they gone elsewhere ? Or do 

 wasps sometimes remain dormant over a whole season, or, 

 what is more probable, are they obnoxious to some epidemi- 

 cal distemper ? I have noticed die failure of bees in some 

 years, when whole hives of them have been found dead on the 

 ground without any apparent cause. 



Hartfield, East Grinstead, Yours, &C. T. F 



Sept. 20, 1624. 



P.S. It may be remarked that ants, and also the whole tribe 

 of limaceous reptiles, have been very numerous and destruc- 

 tive all this season. 



CURE FOR THE CONTAGIOUS GLANDERS. 



Mr. Sewel, Assistant Professor of the Veterinary College, 

 Camden Town, well known especially for his happy disco- 

 very of curing in many cases, and in all relieving, that hitherto 

 irremediable disease the foundered feet of horses by excision of 

 nerve, has been equally fortunate in another hitherto incurable 

 disease, the contagious glanders. For this formidable malady 

 he has found a remedy in the use of sulphate of copper given 

 in the form of bolus or ball daily for several weeks. The 

 dose wm one to two ounces of sulphate of copper. 



G g 2 The 



