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COMPTE RENDU OF THE 
that the distinction between the two is by no means at all times 
evident. 
And, doubtless, it is in this increased and novel acuteness of the 
disease that we must seek for and shall find the reason of the 
contagion lighting upon human kind, who thus in our day, but too 
improvident, has received as our portion a disease more terrific 
than those by which our race w r as infested in ancient times, and 
from which the progress of public hygiene had freed it. 
In all ages glanders has been considered as incurable, nor will 
it be conceded to ours, no more, doubtless, than to those to follow, 
to write in opposition to this melancholy truth. 
A disease complicated with deep-seated transformation, and of 
alteration often most extensive in the structure of organs of the 
utmost importance to life, cannot admit of cure. The plastic force 
inherent in the tissues of the vital economy has limits which can- 
not be surpassed. Like the spider, active in repairing any solu- 
tions of continuity in its web, it becomes powerless in restoring to 
their normal type degenerate and transformed tissues. To spend 
time in the research of this philosopher’s stone is to waste to no 
purpose one’s energy, to recommence, in fact, the impossible labour 
of Tantalus. Whatever we may essay, it is too much to be feared 
that we shall never reach the branch bearing the so-much-desired 
fruit. 
But, on the other hand, if it be unavailing ever to attempt a 
cure, there exist effectual means of prevention ; if not to banish the 
pest altogether, at least to restrict its ravages, to which it is impos- 
sible public attention can be too often called. 
Doubtless, with the laws in France regulating property, and 
with the necessities imposed by general consent, it is impossible 
to obtain from proprietors of horses what one exacts from slave- 
owners — a maximum of labour for the beings in their employ ; but 
there are in existence laws and regulations of the police sanitawe, 
at the present day fallen into disuse on account of their excessive 
rigour, to the observance of which it will be needful to have 
recall until such time as legislation on this head undergoes some, 
modification. 
Here is a subject, indeed, worthy of all the attention of the 
legislature. For very certain it is, that if the augmented power 
glanders has acquired within these few years be attributable to the 
unavoidable excess of work; so, on the other hand, is its propa- 
gation among so many subjects, and especially its transmission on 
human kind, fairly ascribable to the all but total lack of surveil- 
lance over establishments where the horse is used on a large scale. 
At Paris, for example, where, according to a curious statistic 
recently published, there are horses sufficient for carriages for the 
