ITS VESICULAR STACIK. 79 



disease, but that it is vesicular. In common with Mr. 

 Ceely, we have seen many sheep pass through an at- 

 tack of small-pox without any pustules being formed ; 

 but in the latter stages of extreme or protracted cases a 

 purulent fluid is secreted by the vessels of the inflamed 

 dermis, which becomes mingled with the contents of 

 the vesicles, and virtually changes them into pustules. 

 When a large quantity of pus is produced, the ulcerative 

 process usually follows, and extends more or less into 

 the structure of the corium, and not unfrequently into 

 the subcutaneous tissue. The simple transition, how- 

 ever, of a vesicle into a pustule is not necessarily at- 

 tended with ulceration ; for the suppurative action is 

 often aiTested, and dry brown scabs are then the result. 

 Again, it will be observed that the inflammation runs 

 so high when the papulae are confluent, that death of 

 the skin takes place in patches : these are frequently si- 

 tuated on the inferior parts of the abdomen, and inside 

 of the fore and hind extremities. In such cases pus 

 forms on the margins of the sphacelated integument 

 directly below the scarf-skin, and absorption goes rapidly 

 on to effect the removal of the slough. The ulcers 

 thus produced discharge a vitiated fluid, more or less 

 purulent, for many weeks, and have very Httle tendency 

 to heal by granulation. 



These remarks, we beg to state, are not made with 

 a view to disprove Mr. Ceely's opinion, but to shew 

 that there are circumstances under which the suppura- 

 tive action may be set up in the progi'ess of ovine variola. 

 The formation of pustules, as we consider, ought to 

 be regarded rather as an adventitious than an essential 

 feature of the disease. 



Soon after our experiments were begun, we made 



