VARIOLA OVIN.E. 219 



stage of the disease ; and pastures, roads, and other places fre- 

 quented by the diseased animals should be avoided until heavy- 

 rains have destroyed the contagium. 



Inoculation or ovination is recommended by very high autho- 

 rities. In this country, however, the experiment has not proved 

 at all satisfactory. French veterinarians speak highly of ovina- 

 tion : thus, at the Alfort Veterinary School the mortality was 

 only at the rate of 1 in 400 after ovination. Professor Simonds 

 says our experiments are too limited to suggest correct conclusions, 

 and they have shown a result so different, that, were we to found 

 an opinion on the merits of ovination on them alone, it would not 

 be in favour of the practice. The deaths have been at the rate 

 of 20 per cent. Professor Gamgee condemns ovination entirely. 

 Undoubtedly inoculation serves to increase the centres from 

 which the contagium may extend in every direction, whereas segre- 

 gation or slaughter at once diminishes the cause of the propagation 

 of the disease, as well as the centres from whence it might spread. 



Variola ovinse, being a disease that runs a definite course, is not 

 beneficially influenced by the action of medicines ; on the con- 

 trary, the forcible introduction of drugs, or even of gruels, and 

 other so-called nourishments, into the animal's stomach when it 

 is incapable of digesting them, is calculated to do mucli harm. 

 If the diarrha^a be excessive, chalk is to be mixed with the 

 water which the sheep may drink ; or if there be much fever, 

 but no diarrhoea, chlorate, or nitrate of potash may be ordered 

 in the same vehicle. It is essential, however, that the sheep be 

 kept clean, have their nostrils sponged or syringed to prevent 

 suffocation, have clean beds to He upon, be well sheltered and 

 kept warm, have plenty of fresh air, and, if they eat at all, be 

 supplied with easily digested food. 



On the Continent variola occurs among goats, pigs, dogs, and 

 fowls. 



Mr. Gamgee describes a form of chicJccn-])ox in cattle, occur- 

 ring on the Continent under the term varicella houm. — (See 

 Gamgee's Our Domestic Animals in Health and Disease, p. 256.) 



VARIOLA EQLHN.E, OR HORSE-POX, 



(Also called grease, constitutional grease. Soy's disease, and 

 sore heels), is described by Dr. Fleming in his Sanitary Science 



