68 SMALL-POX IN SHKKP. 



especial care, however, to guard against direct contact 

 between the animals; this was done witli a view to 

 ascertain the possibility of the disorder propagating itself 

 by infection alone. Our first experiment was under- 

 taken at the suggestion of Dr. South w^ood Smith, who 

 was desirous to carry out a series of experiments in 

 order to test both the infectious properties of the 

 malady and the power various disinfectants might 

 have in mitigating or preventing its spread. We did 

 not succeed in this instance ; but we insert the par- 

 ticulars. 



On Oct. 3d, very shortly after the death of sheep 

 B (see page 33), a healthy Down was confined in 

 the shed, which was an enclosed one, where sheep 

 A and B had been kept during their illness ; a small 

 quantity of the straw on which they had lain was 

 left on the floor, but the walls and other parts were 

 clean ; and it \^^ll be seen, on reference to these cases, 

 that both animals died in the papular stage of the dis- 

 order, consequently no matter existed in the place as 

 a vehicle for contagion. The Down was kept in the 

 shed for upwards of a fortnight, and was carefully 

 watched both dunng that time and afterwards, but no 

 ill-effects resulted ; a fact which receives further con- 

 firmation from our success in inoculatins; the same 

 animal at a subsequent period. Hurtrel d'Arboval 

 states, that fever miaccompanied with an eruption on 

 the skin is often the only result of exposure, and that 

 its invasion affords an equal protection to the patient. 

 Notwithstanding this and other failures, it is our 

 opinion, on reviewing all the circumstances connected 

 with the increase of sheep-pox, both here and on the 

 Continent, that it is infectious. The epizootic cha- 



