116 ON AN APHTHOUS AFFECTION AMONG CATTLE. 
CASE Y. — On the 5th of October. M. Erkman shewed me a pig, 
the mouth, snout, and feet of which were covered with aphthous 
vesicles. It was along with sixteen other pigs, and ate with them ; 
but no other of all that number shewed the least symptom of 
similar disease. 
Case VI. — This same person had twenty sheep, four of which 
were attacked about the same time ; but although lodged in the 
same stable, eating out of the same trough, and undefended by any 
prophylactic precautions, not one of the others took the disease, 
nor did it attack some goats which were kept with the flock. The 
herdsman drove the whole lot of pigs, sheep, and goats, pele mele, 
into the meadows every day. Some were diseased, others were 
sound; but there was no appearance of contagion. We could in 
addition cite a number of cases which have either come under our 
own observation or have been extracted from the records of 
the long practical experience of M. Casset, a veterinary surgeon 
who treated the aphthous affection of 1839, and never remarked a 
single case of contagion. We have, moreover, interrogated nu- 
merous farmers and cattle owners, and they all deny the existence 
of contagion. 
We have endeavoured to inoculate sheep and horses, in different 
parts of the body, with the matter taken from the most recent pus- 
tules; but our attempts, although again and again renewed, have 
invariably proved unsuccessful. 
Alteration of the Milk — Use of it. 
We have not remarked that the use of the milk has proved in- 
jurious to either men or animals. We knew a great many families 
who consumed the whole of that which was produced by the diseased 
cows, and without the slightest ill effects following. We used 
some ourselves for eight or ten days without experiencing the 
least inconvenience, although the cow by which it was furnished 
was severely diseased. 
Towards the latter part of the second stage, in cows that had 
a great number of vesicles on the mouth, lips, feet, and teats, and 
that had fallen away sadly in a very short space of time, the 
quantity of milk was found to have diminished one-half, and that 
which was left was less oleaginous, and turned sour very quickly. But 
we are quite sure that it possessed no prejudicial or contagious pro- 
perty. We cannot, therefore, agree with M. Delafond, that “ the 
milk is unfit for the use of man*.” We dwell upon this point be- 
cause the learned Professor has, it appears to us, been wanting in 
* Police sanitaire, loco citato, 
