COMPTE IlENDU OF THE 
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often live for ten days after the blood has been drawn from the 
veins, and left in a vessel placed at a temperature of 150 
centigrades. 
By examining a drop of blood with the lens of the microscope, 
we are enabled to observe these hematozoaires swimming with an 
undulating motion among the red globules, bending and unbend- 
ing, twisting and untwisting, with much vivacity. 
In order to ascertain whether these worms exist in the whole 
course of the circulation, MM. Delafond and Gruby have examined 
the blood in the arteries, veins, and capillaries in different parts of 
the body, and everywhere these hematozoaires are to be found. 
The urine, the excrementitious matters, the serous fluid, and none 
of the tissues of the system, are closed against them. 
The diameter of these globules of the blood of the dog is from 
seven to eight thousand millimetres ; that of the filaria is from three 
to five thousand. There is not the least doubt that this worm 
can circulate everywhere in which there is any blood. A drop 
of blood extracted from the capillaries contains from three to five 
of these worms. Their number in the whole of the blood of a dog 
of middling size has been estimated at more than 100,000. 
The prodigious number of these animals might the more astonish 
us, as the dogs in whose blood they are found enjoy good health. 
Among the affections of sheep, disease of the blood or the 
spleen is undeniably that which destroys the greatest number in 
the localities of France, rich with valuable flocks, and where 
agriculture is carried to so much perfection. 
In the course of the year 1842, the mortality occasioned by 
this dreadful disease in the ancient province of France, called 
Beauee, carried off more than two millions of cattle, and the loss 
may be estimated at more than seven millions of francs. 
The Minister of Agriculture was eager to find a remedy for these 
disasters, by sending for M. Delafond to the department of Loiret 
and Loir-et-Cher, to ascertain the causes of the disease of the 
blood, and to point out to agriculturists the means of preventing 
it. Two thousand copies of the report of M. Delafond have been 
distributed among the husbandmen of Beauee. 
Physical Chair of Chemistry and Pharmacy. 
Professor M. Lassaigne. 
Principal M. Clement. 
The Professor charged with this chair has, in the present year, 
delivered different lectures on the chemical properties of the or- 
