452 Report on Experiments in reference to Pleuro-Pneumonia. 
several officers of the College are co-operating in the matter 
pathologically and chemically, so that it may be reasonably 
expected that the causes of acorn poisoning will be fully 
cleared up. 
J. W. BOSANQUET, 
Ap-il 15/7j, 1871. Treasurer. 
XXII. — Report on Experiments in reference to Pleuro-pneumonia 
and other Diseases of Cattle, made during the half-year ending 
March 31s?, 1871, By Professor James Beart Simonds. 
Sir, — I have the honour to report, for the information of the 
Veterinary Committee, that in September last I purchased a cow 
and steer, and subsequently two sheep and a lamb, for experi- 
mental purposes, with the funds, 25/., placed at my disposal by 
the Committee. Shortly after purchase, the cow, being found to 
be unsuited for the required purpose, was disposed of, and the 
money expended in procuring two other animals, a young steer 
and a heifer. With the exception of the lamb, which died shortly 
after purchase, these animals are now at the Royal Veterinary 
College, where they have been kept throughout, at the expense 
of the Institution. 
The experiments originally had recourse to had for their 
main object the further elucidation of the laws which regulate 
the spread of pleuro-pneumonia; but, in consequence of the 
difficulties which were found to beset this subject, some of the 
animals were subsequently used for other purposes. The first 
pleuro-pneumonia experiment consisted in exposing one of the 
steers to the inhalation of the vapour of diseased lungs. For this 
purpose a dairyman's cow, suffering from the disease in its 
advanced stages, was killed, and the lungs immediately forwarded 
to the College. Here they were placed with the experimental 
animal in a closed loose-box, care being taken so to secure the 
head of the animal, that at each inspiration the vapour should 
enter the respiratory organs. The steer was kept in this position 
until the lungs had become cold ; but, although then liberated, 
the lungs were not removed from the box, it having been deter- 
mined to leave them with the animal until visible decomposition 
had begun. The animal was carefully watched day by day 
until the expiration of the tenth week, but not the least devia- 
tion from health was observed during any part of the time. 
It was now determined to repeat the experiment in a modified 
form, and for this purpose a sponge was placed in the nostril of 
a diseased cow and allowed to remain until it had become 
thoroughly saturated with the breath and also the mucous dis- 
