TRANSLATIONS FROM THE CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 655 
Annales Veterinaires, Bruxelles , July, 1858. 
REPORT ON THE SANITARY STATE OE DOMESTIC ANIMALS 
IN THE CANTON DE FOSSE, IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 
1858. 
Par M. A. Davieusart, Medecin Veterinaire du Gouvernement, et Membre 
de la Commission d 5 Agriculture de la province de Namur. 
The maladies which have prevailed in this, the first quarter 
of 1858, justify by their severity the observation which has 
often been made, viz., that the scarcity of food is less ob- 
noxious to health than abundance ; for, notwithstanding the 
great want of forage, the state of the health of the animals 
has been most satisfactory. No epizootic or contagious 
disease has prevailed, and sporadic diseases have been few, 
and not fatal in their results. By a remarkable exception, 
pityriasis has been frequent amongst horses. Much as this 
affection prevails among neat cattle in the winter, it rarely 
attacks horses as an enzootic. 
Cachexia has shown itself in isolated cases in cattle, and 
has been fatal in some instances, but it has not spread to any 
great extent. It was accompanied by its usual characters: 
insidious invasion ; slow progress ; loss of flesh ; prostration 
of strength; dulness; loss of coat; pityriasis; blanched 
mucous membranes; cedematous swellings; diarrhoea; frequent 
lying down; marasmus, and death. Some animals which 
were only slightly attacked recovered by judicious treatment. 
Notwithstanding the excellent quality of the forage, it having 
been got in without rain, abortion has been frequent amongst 
the domestic animals, and although isolated, very common 
also amongst mares. 
The most numerous cases occurred in the months of 
December, January and February, to mares of all ages, 
and from the seventh to the ninth month of gestation, 
independent of their good or bad condition, or of their 
being kept without work. In studying this difficult question, 
the things which have more particularly fixed our attention, 
as belonging to its cause, are absolute rest, permanent 
sojourn in the stable, and especially when combined with a too 
stimulating diet for the actual wants of the animal economy. 
The greatest number of cases happened to those mares which 
were well fed and confined to the stable. It was rarely 
observed amongst those that were poor and kept at work. 
Stimulating diet, also, according to our observation, is a more 
frequent cause of abortion than debility. The wdnter diet 
of animals, though less nutritious, suffices under all ordinarv 
circumstances, not only for the maintenance of the mother, 
