COMPLEX ALBUMINOID POISON. 



chemistry has as yet (1866) found in Cattle Plague 

 no complex albuminoid matter in a state of rapid 

 chemical change, capable of communicating its own 

 action to the albumen of the serum of the blood, and 

 of the textures of cattle." The author of these 

 sentences, unwittingly perhaps, expounds the doctrine 

 he himself believes, and desires the public should 

 adopt. Though he admits that chemistry has not 

 found the matter, he intimates that ere long success 

 may be attained. On the other hand, he has no hope 

 whatever that the microscope will ever assist in the 

 discovery of the poison. The poison is always to re- 

 main imdis cover able by this instrument ! Here is one 

 mode of investigation authoritatively condemned with- 

 out reason and without knowledge on the part of him 

 who condemns it, and another exalted with unmis- 

 takable affection and partiality, although its short- 

 comings are admitted. At the very time these 

 sentences were written, the poisonous matter had been 

 made out by the microscope, and the contagious ma- 

 terial of more than one contagious malady had been 

 actually figured in the report which is here criticised, 

 and which the writer is supposed for he does not 

 hesitate to comment upon it to have read and 

 studied. 



Those who are acquainted with the theories now 

 entertained upon this very important and interesting 

 question, know that many of them are based upon 

 the results of microscopical enquiry. There are 



