652 
REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
animals, when in health, contracting a disease of the same 
description as that affecting others with which they are 
located, is the best proof of the infectious or contagious 
nature of the malady. The escape of some under the same 
circumstances may be due to a variety of causes, and offers 
no satisfactory proof that the disease is non-contagious. 
For example, all animals are not equally susceptible of being 
acted on at the same time by the morbific matter; some may, 
therefore, resist its influence to-day, but in the course of a 
few days afterwards be susceptible of its action. 
The facts which have been given with reference to the 
various outbreaks of the rinderpest do not require the 
addition of scientific deductions to establish more firmly the 
infectious nature of the malady. We believe that it stands 
second to none in its liability of spreading from animal to 
animal, the cattle tribe being alone its victims. If the malady 
were one that owned its extension to unexplained causes ; if 
it suddenly showed itself in one part of. the Continent and 
rapidly spread, despite all precautionary measures and 
without the introduction of diseased animals, to others near 
to or at a greater distance from its origin ; if, in short, it 
possessed all the characters of an epizootic, then we might 
have some reason to doubt its infectious nature. 
It has been stated, on indisputable authority, that any 
animal which has been exposed to the infection can propagate 
the disease without itself becoming affected ; and that even 
cattle can do this before they are diseased, in consequence of 
the materies morbi being lodged in the hair which covers 
their bodies. This is by no means improbable, and the 
opinion receives support from the circumstance that in 
numberless instances persons visiting the sick cattle have 
conveyed the pest to other animals of the ox tribe. Thus 
we see that in these particulars the disease agrees with the 
small-pox of sheep, or with the plague, small-pox, &c., of man, 
and that it is as infectious among cattle as the latter-named 
diseases are among ourselves. 
There have been doubters of the infectious nature of the 
rinderpest ; and whenever speculation has been allowed to 
take the place of facts, although it may seemingly have had 
science as its basis, great injury has resulted to those most 
interested in the question. A notable instance of this kind 
has been furnished us by Professor Renault, Director of 
the Alfort Veterinary School, and through his kindness we 
are enabled to transcribe the following particulars. 
( To be continued .) 
