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SANGUINEOUS A POP I. E X V . 
Can it be transmitted from one animal to another by means of 
mediate or immediate contact,] Is it capable of producing a putrid 
disease of a virulent nature in the human being] 
These points, which are to the present day obscure, would have 
been long since set at rest if all observers of this disease had, 
like M. Delafond, attentively examined and severely analysed all 
the facts and cases that came under their notice. Let us recall 
to mind, in the first place, and never be weary of repeating, that 
the disease which we are now describing, and which forms the 
subject of this essay, whatever may be the symptoms by which it 
is characterised, differs essentially from typhoid diseases: the 
account of its causes, symptoms, and anatomical characteristics, 
will have more than sufficiently proved this. 
With enlightened and attentive observers, the truth of facts 
will always prevail over theoretic and preconceived ideas ; for 
Hurtrel d’Arboval, who described congestion attended with ex- 
ternal haemorrhage as a variety of typhus in sheep, nevertheless 
affirms that this variety is by no means contagious. And on this 
latter point we perfectly agree with him. 
Seeing the disease suddenly break out among his flock, and 
carrv off numerous victims in one single day, the farmer is but too 
apt to attribute this frightful mortality to contagion. But if the 
disease can take on an epizootic form, it is not on that account con- 
tagious. Have not all the animals thus simultaneously attacked 
in one fold or one flock been for a considerable time exposed to 
the same influences, and have not all imbibed from a similar 
source the germ of the evil that declares itself among them ] 
Let one individual that has been kept out of reach of the causes 
of this disease be placed in the very midst of this pretended seat 
of contagion ; if he does not escape, you may then conclude that 
there is direct or indirect contagion. But we caused some sheep 
taken from a neighbouring locality to be placed among a flock in 
which this disease was committing frightful ravages (that of 
M. Tartar! n, a farmer, at Sergis), and they were not in the 
slightest degree affected. To this proof we will add others. In 
one and the same farm, the disease in general only attacks the 
most plethoric animals, while it always spares the more feeble ; 
and in a locality where there are many flocks the disease will 
often break out in but one, and that one by no men ns an isolated 
one. Close by M. Tartarin’s flock, some sheep belonging to his 
brother were driven every day to pasture. We have seen dogs 
and other animals feed with impunity on the yet reeking remains 
of sheep that have died of this epizootic. Lastly, we have 
inoculated healthy animals with the blood of diseased animals 
without producing the slightest result. 
