ON AN APHTHOUS AFFECTION AMONG CATTLE. 117 
his usual caution when he thus hazards such an assertion, unsup- 
ported by proper proofs. He did not sufficiently reflect that his 
name bears great weight in medical affairs, and that he is con- 
stantly liable to be summoned by the ministerial authorities. 
What a serious responsibility would rest upon him if some 
municipality should, in faith of the opinion of the learned Profes- 
sor, prohibit the use of milk derived from aphthous cows ! What a 
serious effect such a measure would have upon agriculture, upon 
local industry, and upon commerce in general, in those districts 
whose sole or chief riches consist in milk and the produce of milk ! 
These united considerations impose on us the duty of searching 
into the annals of science for facts that could have given rise to 
M. Delafond’s opinion. We find none worthy of the least shadow 
of confidence. It is Michel Sagar who states that it has not its 
natural sweetness or consistence, and that it communicates the 
aphthae to men and animals. And a veterinarian in the environs 
of Lyons has made the same remark. 
We are aware what reliance can be placed on the opinions of 
Sagar; and as for the other individual, we regret that it is not in 
our power to give credence to his remarks. 
In order to prove to M. Delafond that we are incited solely by 
the interests of science and truth, I will furnish him with facts of 
more value than those quoted in his “ Police Sanitaire.” 
Berbier, jun., in the “Memoires de la Societe Centrale d’ Agri- 
culture,” says that some persons who have made use of the milk 
of diseased cows, and some pigs which were fed on it, have been 
attacked with the disease*. 
In 1834, when the aphthous epizootic prevailed in Germany, 
several veterinary surgeons, and Messrs. Wenderburg, Filgner, 
and Lehnard, state, that they saw many cases in which this dis- 
ease was communicated to human beings simply by the use of the 
milk of diseased animalst. About the same time three German 
veterinary surgeons, Messrs. Hertwig, Mann, and Villain, wishing 
to ascertain whether the milk of aphthous cows was actually capa- 
ble of inducing the disease in the human being, made the following 
experiments : — 
The cow chosen had been suffering under this disease for five 
or six days, and was seriously ill. Each of these veterinarians 
slowly drank a pint of warm milk. On the 27th, 28th, and 30th of 
the same month (July) they repeated the experiment. 
On the 28th M. Hertwig experienced shiverings, fever, heat in 
the mouth, and an itching sensation in the hands and fingers. On 
* Memoire de M. Rayer, Recueil 1839, p. 140. 
f M. Rayer, loco citato. 
I M. Rayer, loco citato. 
VOL. XIX. 
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