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CENTRAL VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY. 
institution of sanitary regulations, expressed liis belief that its truly 
infectious nature is not thereby made out. The sudden disappear- 
ance of tbe affection from a large stud, after only a few have 
been attacked, is quite common. A wide-spread cause exists, but 
some animals have tbe power to resist its operation ; hence their 
immunity. 
Mr. F. Jarvis said the major portion of his cases exhibited evi- 
dences of associated bronchitis and congestion of the lungs. Sub- 
cellular effusion, on tbe other band, was very rare. He was inclined 
to believe in the infectious and contagious nature of influenza, 
having found that, after tbe introduction of an affected animal to a 
stable containing fifteen others, the whole afterwards fell ill ; 
when bay on which the saliva of a diseased animal has fallen is given 
to another, influenza has always followed. 
The President said his views of tbe nature of tbe disease were not 
in harmony with those of Mr. Hunting. If only simple fever were 
present, the peculiar and severe depression characteristic of in- 
fluenza could not arise. This sign alone pointed out a specific con- 
dition of tbe blood. Tbe existence of the cause in the atmosphere 
is held with great firmness by Professor Roll, of Vienna, who 
believes it to be miasm. It is remarkable that influenza appears in 
hot weather as well as cold, and many of those animals well cared 
for at home suffer the most when taken abroad, while those continu- 
ally exposed suffer less, yet they are not always exempt from severe 
outbreaks, as was shown when the Austrian army was encamped 
during the last war ; the horses, although their coats were left on, 
as they were picketed out of doors, suffered severely. Neither are 
clipped horses exempt. Much depends on the season and mode of 
management. 
The Secretary said, in reply to Mr. Hunting’s statement, taking 
exception to the specific condition of the blood, the fact that puri- 
fication having been suspended from extrinsic causes would induce 
that state, the nature of which is modified by the peculiar character 
of the causes. Morbid conditions of the blood are produced in 
accordance with prevailing conditions ; although, in a cursory view, 
the same cause may appear to exist in each, there are, nevertheless, 
modified results which correspond to meteorological or hygrometric 
states of the atmosphere. As far as the instances of alleged infection 
and contagion had been adduced, he thought that they had not defi- 
nitely settled the point. Notwithstanding the number of cases arising 
after the introduction of an affected animal, or the disappearance of 
the disease after removal of the one first attacked, the proof is as far 
off as ever. The alleged communicability of influenza to man is not 
proved, and its spread among animals only goes to demonstrate 
the existence of a wide-spread cause, exerting its influence upon 
constitutions rendered susceptible by previous alternations of 
temperature in conjunction with undue exposure, hard work, 
loss of rest, as well as certain hygrometric states of the atmo- 
sphere, inimical to the functions of the skin and mucous membranes 
generally. 
