HAIR-BALLS IN A C()W. 
115 
distant only twenty-five leagues from the capital, and occupying a 
space of twenty -four leagues in length and five in width, containing 
more than forty thousand milch cows, and representing a capital of 
thirteen millions and a half of francs, sending to the market butter 
and cheese and fat cattle to the amount of eight millions annually, 
has of late been, in a manner, devastated by pneumonia. Two 
thousand beasts, of the value of five hundred thousand francs, have 
been lost. 
These disasters, which seemed to compromise the attention and 
care of the inhabitants of Bray, attracted the attention of govern- 
ment, and Professor Delafond was sent to the valley to study the 
disease, to ascertain its character and causes, and to devise the 
means which may prevent or cure it. He remained more than 
two months at Bray, and instituted various inquiries, which have 
led to the most important results, and more particularly he has 
ascertained that this disease is produced not merely by the influ- 
ence of local causes, but also by contagion. 
Before he set out for Normandy, he doubted the possibility of 
this mode of communication of the disease ; but a great number of 
facts, well authenticated, have convinced him that consumption 
may be communicated by sick animals to those in good health, 
both in the stable and at pasture. 
M. Delafond has published a report of his proceedings, some ex- 
tracts from which, we trust, we shall be able to give in an early 
number. 
Rec. du Med. Vet., Sept. 1840. 
Hair-Balls (HCgagropilies) found in the Liquor 
Amnii of a Cow. 
By M. Constant Pouchy, M. V., Heronvillette. 
The cow that is the subject of this memoir was five years old, 
in moderate condition, and in the thirteenth month of utero-gestation. 
The calf was living when I was first called to her, but, being of very 
unusual size, we were compelled to dismember it, in order to extract 
it. The only remarkable circumstance about it was, the absence of 
the cerebrum and cerebellum. These two organs were replaced by 
a serous fluid. The vessels of the meninges were numerous and di- 
lated, and the whole head was narrow and lengthened. There were 
several malformations of the head, which it is unnecessary to state; 
but the most remarkable circumstance was the floating of a great 
number of tegagropilies, or hair-balls, in the liquor amnii, resembling 
in appearance those which are found in the abomasum and intestinal 
canal of ruminants. Most of them were round ; others assumed an 
ovoid form, and their diameter varied from an inch and a half to five 
inches. 
