4o6 Veterinary Medicine. 



" Fromage, in the Dictionaire de Rozier, Article Phthisis, says : 

 ' Men of art are very much in accord that this malad}' is not con- 

 tagious, but some stock owners think differently.' 



" Huzard, who saw much of tuberculosis in the Parisian dairies 

 in the concluding decade of the last century, said that most of 

 the veterinarians looked upon the disease as contagious, and that 

 some of the physicians believed the same of the phthisis of man. 



" Dewar, speaking of his experience in Scotland in 1839, and 

 succeeding years, in a particular herd, says : ' The proprietor 

 agreed to remove partition walls, and to make openings oppcsite 

 one another in the outside walls, so that there might be a current 

 of fre.sh air passing through. These alterations combined with 

 cod-liver oil, tonics and stimulants, may have prolonged life but 

 yet no cure was effected, and that herd died out. I resorted to 

 every precaution when new cattle were purcha.sed to prevent 

 infection ; as I had an idea, even at that time, that the di.sease 

 might be communicated from one to another when in immediate 

 contact. The precautions adopted when fresh cattle were pur- 

 chased had the desired effect, for in a few years afterward, they 

 were as good a lot of cattle as any in the district. That herd left 

 an impression on my mind that never can be effaced, and made 

 me always dread the evil consequences of tuberculosis. Having 

 practiced in the same locality, which is an extensive breeding and 

 rearing district, I have seen several herds decimated. Though I 

 have .sometimes foretold the owner what he might expect, yet he 

 did not believe me until .so many were infected that the byres 

 were infested with the fearful malady, and your remarks in regard 

 to nose contamination are so true that I do not think it possible 

 any can escape that are so exposed. I have also seen, as Grad 

 has, the same stall infecting beast after bea.st until a thorough 

 cleaning and di.sinfecting, with plenty of fresh air had removed all 

 infection.' 



"Spinola, writing in 1858, of bovine tuberculosis, gives conta- 

 gion as a pos.sible cause, and Lafosse, in 1867, .says : ' Physicians 

 begin in imitation of Morgagni to believe in the contagion of 

 phthisis. The facts published by Villemin appear to support 

 this opinion, which has been held by our colleague, Dupont, of 

 Bordeaux, for several years.' 



" Cruzel in his work of date, 1868, is much more positive ; he 

 says : ' This foetid expired air, inhaled immediately by another 



