540 
MISCELLANEA. 
the expiration of a fortnight symptoms of unhealthy inflammation mani- 
fested themselves on the inside of the mouth and around the lips of the 
lamb, consisting of a purplish red eruption, with some engorgement of the 
mucous membrane, and in which some dark red spots were here and there 
perceived. These spots became the seats of small tumours, of a dirty white 
colour; and though these soon disappeared by the unassisted efforts of nature, 
similar tumours arose on the outside of the lips, which remained persistent, 
and assumed a fungoid character, bleeding from the slightest cause. They 
grew to the size of a pea, and were attended with considerable irritation of 
the digestive and urinary passages. The latter symptoms, however, were 
moderated by an infusion of pellitory mixed with olive oil ; and the tumours 
checked in their progress by a mixture of oil, vinegar, and salt, which, 
being applied to them, they gradually diminished. The disease, which in the 
patois of the country was termed boukiehon (mal-labiale), is popularly consi- 
dered contagious ; nevertheless, the suckling process was allowed to con- 
tinue for another fortnight, when the lamb was removed. 
It would seem, however, that for some time before the final removal of 
the lamb, the woman had felt pains in her breasts, and observed the growth 
of several small tumours in those glands. It was after the lamb had been 
falling away in health for about a week that she noticed around each nipple 
an unusual redness, that was soon afterwards attended by a burning heat, 
particularly during the act of lactation. A few days afterwards some pur- 
plish spots appeared in the areola surrounding the left nipple, in the centre 
of which several pimples were seen, each about as large as a pin’s head. 
These pimples were at first red, but soon became of a greyish colour, assuming 
the same aspect with those around the mouth of the lamb. They increased 
rapidly in size, became pediculated, and assumed the fungoid and bleeding 
character. At this period also (Jan. 17, 1841), three similar tumours began 
to grow on the right breast, and followed a course similar to the preceding 
ones. 
On the 24th of January, the tumours on the left side had become as large 
as an ordinary sized pea, while the three on the right side had attained almost 
the magnitude of an almond. The cessation from suckling the lamb was 
not adopted until this late period. 
Emollient poultices and lotions, leeches, &c. were employed with little 
benefit to the breasts. Compression was next used ; but it had only the 
effect of agglomerating the separate tumours into one. Calcined alum and 
such feeble escliarotics were equally unproductive of any good result. 
On the 9th of February the patient consulted the practitioner who has re- 
ported the case. At this time the fungoid mass on the left breast was about 
three inches in diameter in its widest part, of a rounded form, and separated 
into three unequal lobes. It appeared to consist of an interlacement of 
arteries and veins, interspersed with some nervous filaments. The tumour 
on the right side was of a similar kind. No fever was present, and the gene- 
ral health of the patient was not obviously affected. 
The morbid growths of the right breast were stopped by the help of the 
ligature and a powerful caustic ; that of the left side required the knife for its 
removal, but the wound made in the operation readily cicatrised. The above 
case (we are aware of no recorded instance affording similar proof) clearly 
testifies the existence of another disease belonging to the category of those 
communicable from animals to man, of which class hydrophobia, glanders, 
and the vaccine disease, are striking examples. 
Lancet. 
