VETERINARY SCHOOL AT ALFORT. 
193 
The operation of dividing the neck of the vaginal sheath in cases 
of strangulated hernia has been performed six times, but only twice 
successfully. 
A case of vomiting which lasted two days occurred in a thorough- 
bred horse ; the animal was however speedily cured. 
Lastly, with a view of ascertaining whether gelatine was 
alone sufficient to sustain life, the clinical professor kept several 
dogs on this substance only for a longer or shorter period. He 
states that all the animals manifested excessive dislike to it, and 
rapidly diminished in weight. Similar results were observed 
when nothing but distilled or common water was given to the dogs. 
One of these animals lived sixteen days without food or drink of 
any kind. M. Renault has continued his researches on the con- 
tagious properties and various modes and circumstances under 
which rabies and acute glanders are propagated. It is his inten- 
tion at some future time to publish the result of all his numerous 
experiments. At present he merely states that he inoculated 
five animals with the saliva of rabid sheep, and not one of them 
manifested the slightest symptom of the disease, although kept for 
a full year after the inoculation. He has considered it to be his 
duty to state this fact, which is in accordance with the results of a 
number of other experiments that he has already published, be- 
cause it is in direct opposition to a statement published by the 
clinical professor of the Veterinary School at Lyons. 
Chair of Chemistry, Physics, and Pharmacy. 
Professor M. Lassaigne 
Chef de Service . . . .M. Clement. 
The physical and chemical sciences, considered wilh a view to 
the application of their principles to agriculture and medicine, have, 
in the veterinary schools, always excited a peculiar interest on 
the part not only of the professors connected with this branch of 
instruction, but in the whole body of professors, who, each in their 
separate and special researches, have endeavoured to surround 
themselves with every means of arriving at the truth. 
Chemistry, by penetrating into the constitution of various bodies 
and matters, acquaints us with their actual nature, the order in 
which their elements are associated and combined, and their vari- 
ous properties ; and thus frequently enables us to ascertain what 
will be their effects, and also the causes which lead to their format 
tion. This will be demonstrated by the result of an -experiment 
made by M. Lassaigne on the composition of the mud of the Nile ; 
