ON EPIZOOTIC DISEASES. 
251 
measures truly indispensable. “ Although, ” say Vicq d’Azyr, 
speaking of the fumigations that were beginning to be introduced, 
“ we ought, when we have the opportunity, to employ this mea- 
sure, we may, nevertheless, content ourselves with other pro- 
ceedings, especially if they are performed carefully and to their 
full extent.” The practitioner needs not to be ashamed when 
he is thus employed ; for next, or equal, to the rescuing from 
destruction those that are already attacked, is the preservation of 
the remainder of the dairy. He will have enough to do in the 
early recognition of the epizootic disease; its origin — its pro- 
gress — its fearful modes of propagation — its character — the pro- 
bable time of its continuance — the method of distinguishing it 
from other diseases with which it may be confounded — the means 
of cure — the preventive measures which it may be necessary to 
adopt, and which absolute necessity can alone justify — here will be 
sufficient room for the display of talent and the exercise of sound 
discretion. 
Among these measures, the most efficacious and the most im- 
perative will occasionally be the sacrifice, I will not say of the 
disease only, nor of those that are suspected, but of others that, 
to the inexperienced eye, continue to exhibit symptoms of health. 
Who can better determine the cases in which the disease will be 
almost necessarily fatal from those in which there is yet hope, 
than the veterinary surgeon ? Who will be able earliest to re- 
cognize the changing character of the disease and to seize the op- 
portunities when decisive measures must be adopted, or nature 
left to itself? 
Who, if I may be permitted to draw such a comparison, when 
an immense conflagration has broken out, and the play of the 
pumps has become powerless and the flames are increasing 
every moment, will not regard with admiration those who are 
actively employed in cutting off* all communication with the 
neighbouring buildings, and removing every combustible matter, 
and sacrificing every thing that would tend to increase the vio- 
lence of the flames? Such is the duty of the veterinary surgeon. 
It is an arduous but an honourable one. 
In another communication we shall resume the subject. 
[This paper is introduced, not because we agree with every part 
of it, as will hereafter appear, but as containing an interest- 
ing summary of the opinions and practice of our continental 
neighbours. The subject will be continued in our next number, 
-Y-] 
