INFLUENZA. 571 



periments scientifically conducted. Its plausibility is 

 admitted by even its most pronounced opponents, and I 

 certainly can see no reason why granular masses of organic 

 material may not be conveyed either by direct contact, or 

 through the medium of the air, from a diseased animal to 

 another animal, which, though free from any appreciable 

 disease, may at the same time harbour a predisposition, 

 thereby affording a favourable nidus for the reception of 

 the contagium ; and the contagium being received, it exerts 

 in due time its peculiar influence. 



Reason, and the greatest weight of evidence, are on the 

 side of this hypothesis ; however, we must remember that 

 it is only an hypothesis, and not an established fact, and as 

 such we must receive and investigate it with care, before 

 placing implicit confidence in it ; and in the meantime we 

 must wait patiently yet awhile until new researches are 

 made and more light thrown upon the subject, as at 

 present it seems that this point will not admit of 

 solution. 



In conclusion of this part of my subject, I will say that, 

 in my opinion, before long, everything relating to this 

 disease will be made clear to us : all those points which are 

 now hidden in obscurity will have that darkness cleared 

 away by the magic hand of science and brought to light, 

 as many other wonderful and previously unsuspected facts 

 have been brought to light within the last few years. At 

 present, however, from the varieties of opinions held, and 

 the multitudinous theories advanced, figuratively speaking, 

 influenza is the rock upon which both professions have 

 split ; but more particularly is the veterinary profession 

 divided on this point. 



The disease begins with a chill, which is followed by 

 febrile movement, heightened temperature, and thus the 

 presence of fever is clearly indicated. Then coughing, 



