104 SMALL-POX IN SUKKl'. 



the others, Inmhs included, inoculated in the ear, in 

 conformity with the published reconnncndation of the 

 Austrian Government in Bohemia ; and the result was 

 in the highest degree satisfactory, as we did not lose 

 above one per cent, of sheep, and six per cent, of 

 lambs*." 



Similar statements of the beneficial effects of inocu- 

 lation, even when variola has appeared in a Jiock, are 

 contained in the wTitings of the French and Italians. 

 The experiments hitherto carried out in this country 

 are too few either to confirm or negative these reinarks, 

 but we cannot withhold our assent from their accmacy. 

 Mr. Mayer objects to inoculation, and says, " I should 

 myself question its policy, as it tends to perpetuate a 

 disease in the country, which by sanitary regulations 

 on the part of the government, and the active co- 

 operation of local authorities and agriculturists, might 

 be arrested in its course, and thus die outf." Ab- 

 stractedly considered, there is sound reasoning in these 

 observations ; but as necessity may compel our flock- 

 masters to take other measures to save their sheep 

 besides those alluded to in this extract, the propriety 

 of inoculating the animals must be investigated on its 

 merits, or capability of effecting the desired object. 



We should bear in mind, that, when ovination is 

 adopted as a prophylactic, the danger to the animals 

 themselves depends entirely on the artificial convey- 

 ance of the variolous virus into the system, and that 

 the deaths which result therefrom are comparatively 

 few. This circumstance alone would lead us to 



* Sheep-pox, p. 8, & seq. 



t Veterinarian, vol. xx, page 630. 



