SANGUINEOUS APOPLEXY. 177 
the disease is seldom seen, and, when it does appear, assumes a 
mild form. 
Formerly, and at no very distant period, it was the custom here- 
abouts, and in many other parts, to turn the flocks out at all 
seasons and in all weathers, to pasture on the stubble-fields and on 
the fallows. Temporary meadows being but little known in 
France, the only food given in the sheepfold during winter was 
straw and other kinds of dry fodder, and now and then cereals or 
leguminous plants. The sheep were then poor and weak ; their 
blood was serous and poor : if the season proved rainy, and tender 
aqueous herbage shot up, cachexy was sure to make its appear- 
ance, and decimate the flock. At the present day the sheep gene- 
rally are strong and robust : the number of the globules is already 
increased by crossing the breeds*, as also is the albumino-fibrinous 
elements by the nutritive regimen to which they are submitted. 
Any one going over the farms in this district during winter, or at 
the beginning of spring, or the latter end of autumn, will see that 
the flocks are fed with an abundance of succulent and heating 
fodder. In the summer they are only turned out when they can 
be put upon grass pastures, and then, if from bad weather, or from 
the heat of the day, the flock is obliged to be folded, a quantity of 
succulent fodder is immediately given. What is the result of such 
a dietary system ] Why, that cachexy has almost entirely dis- 
appeared, and even in wet seasons is now rarely met with here, 
and apoplectic sanguineous congestion is very frequent. On this 
important point with regard to the etiology of the disease, as it must 
determine the prophylactic treatment, I am happy to find that my 
views agree with the opinions already put forth by several eminent 
agriculturists and veterinary surgeons; asTessier, Huzard, Girard, 
Yvart, D’Arboval, and Delafond. Besides, do we not all know that 
good food makes good chyle, and that good chyle makes good blood] 
If, then, rich fodder is suddenly and profusely given, can we 
wonder that an abundance of rich blood should be formed, which 
predisposes the animal to sanguineous congestions ] 
The soil of our mountainous district is various in nature, but 
generally healthy, notwithstanding that we have much wood and 
many rivulets : the air is clear and dry; the water pure and whole- 
some, and stagnant ponds or marshes are seldom met with. The 
folds, which are usually raised above the level of the soil, are large, 
well ventilated, cleaned out frequently, and plentifully supplied 
with litter. The chief if not the sole cause, therefore, lies in the 
alimentary regimen : to seek for it elsewhere, were merely to call 
upon the imagination to create fresh hypotheses. 
* See “ Recherches sur la Composition du Sang de quelques Animaux 
domestiques, dans l’Etat de Sante et de Maladie by Messrs. And. Govaret 
andDelafond. — Rec.de Med. Vet., vol. xix, p. 178. 
VOL. XIX B b 
