B80 Inoculation for Pleiiro-Pneumonia in Cattle. 



disease, small-pox, &c., is made milder and safer for use by 

 these removes ; and supposing the truth of the system of inocu- 

 lating cattle, as a preventive of pleuro-pneumonia, to be esta- 

 blished, it is of the first importance that a safe as well as an 

 efficacious material should be employed. These points will un- 

 doubtedly receive elucidation by the experiments now being 

 adopted at the several Continental schools of veterinary medicine. 

 It is a question, however, well worthy the attention of the Council 

 of this Society, as to whether any efforts should be made here 

 towards an obtainment of information on such important subjects. 

 We are told that these problems are solved, and that experience 

 has confirmed the truth of the conclusions ; but, at the least, 

 I can afhrm from my own observations that the practice of the 

 inoculators does not bear out their assertions, nor is it conducted 

 as though these things were known. 



Dr. Willems says he has carried the virus " through five 

 removes, and that no deaths and fewer casualties arise from the 

 operations made with the product of such inoculations, and yet, 

 strange as it may appear, he unhesitatingly asserts that he 

 prefers the original exudations from the diseased lung. Nay, 

 of this I had plenty of proof, as upwards of thirty newly-pur- 

 chased animals were allowed to remain 2m-inoculated for upwards 

 •of a week, until he could obtain some fluid directly from the 

 affected lungs of an animal destroyed by the malady. Another 

 instance of the same kind was afforded me two days before leav- 

 ing Belgium, when I accompanied M. Willems from Hasselt to 

 the veterinary school of Brussels, where eight cows sent by the 

 Government, in addition to those before mentioned, were waiting 

 his operations. On the morning of our arrival a cow had died 

 of pleuro-pneumonia, from which he inoculated these animals, 

 and re-inoculated two of those I had seen at my first visit. M. 

 Willems promised to send me the result of these experiments, 

 and has done so in as far as the eight cows are concerned. 

 With reference to the period of incubation of " the virus," it 

 is said to vary from ten days to a month, but I am of opinion 

 that no correct data can be obtained on such a subject from the 

 rough and unscientific operations I witnessed. It is, perhaps, 

 right I should here state that the Professors of the Brussels 

 School are only the observers of the practice, the Minister wish- 

 ing M. Willems to act independently, and to report when the 

 animals are in a condition to be subjected to counter-proofs, such 

 as cohabitation with diseased animals, re-inoculations, &c. &c. 

 by the Professors. I have spoken of the tail as the part se- 

 lected for the introduction of the virus ; it is necessary to add 

 that the extremity of the organ is chosen, so that amputation 

 may be resorted to in those cases where mortification super- 



