4S TRANSACTIONS AT THE ROYAL VETERINARY 
to horses, even in small quantities, almost immediately produces 
the appearance of the most alarming symptoms, followed by 
speedy death. M. Lefort, veterinary surgeon at Champlette, 
sent to Alfort some of the mast, and of the cake which remained 
after pressure, for experiment on their injurious properties. As 
the horses evinced great repugnance to eat either the mast or the 
cake, M. Prudhomme, at the desire of the Director, forced on 
some of them a portion of the oil that had been expressed, and on 
others, the cake from which it had been expressed. They all 
died within twelve hours after the administration of both. 
With the view of ascertaining whether, in animals that were 
poisoned by too strong a dose of arsenic, the urinary secretion 
was suspended, as some physiologists have affirmed, M. Delafond 
destroyed eleven horses and four dogs with this drug. During 
the whole period, from the exhibition of the poison to the death 
of the animals, the urinary secretion, although diminished, did 
not cease, and the apparatus of Marsh always indicated the pre- 
sence of arsenic in the urine. 
The Chair of Agriculture. 
M. Rodet, Professor. 
The experiments commenced by M. Yvart on crossing the sheep 
of Nar and Rambouillet with the Merinos have been continued. 
A beautiful ram of the Vosges breed has also been introduced. 
Crosses have likewise been effected between the long-woolled 
Dishley sheep and the Merinos of different flocks. These expe- 
riments, which promise to improve our wool to a very considera- 
ble degree, are yet in progress. 
The eagerness with which good bulls of the Durham breed 
have been lately imported, the crowds of agriculturists that have 
attended the sale and the letting of them, and the high price 
which they have fetched, prove that the excellent qualities of 
these animals are more and more appreciated. They are essen- 
tially destined for slaughter; but while preparing for their ultimate 
destination, they yield a greater quantity of milk than can be 
procured from any other breed. 
The Chair of Chemistry, Physic, and Pharmacy. 
The study of morbid productions, considered in relation to their 
composition, has always engaged the attention of the professor 
of this class, and as often as the hospitals have supplied him with 
materials, he has eagerly proceeded to a chemical examination of 
the different products, which interest as much the pathology as 
the physiology of animals. 
