THE MULE. 307 
but at one of the extremities of small hair-like passages, “ cuniculi,” 
in the vicinity of the vesicles or pustules. 
4th. That, placed on the skin of a Wealthy individual, they excite 
a disease in the part to which they are confined, having all the 
characters of scabies. 
5th. That acari taken from mangy sheep, horses, and dogs, and 
transplanted to healthy individuals of the same species, produce in 
them a disease analogous to that in the animals from which they 
were taken. 
6th. That the fluid contained in the vesicles or pustules of itch, 
and in those of mange, fails in producing these diseases when 
rubbed into, or inserted beneath, the skin of man and animals. 
7th. That there are too many well-attested cases on record to 
permit us to doubt of scabies having been communicated from ani- 
mals to man; yet there is evidence to prove that mangy animals 
may be handled with impunity by some individuals. 
8th. That itch may be communicated from man to animals is 
not improbable; but we have no facts at present to verify this 
supposition. Medical Gazette. 
THE MULE. 
[We extract the following paper from that truly valuable monthly 
periodical, “ The Farmer’s Magazine.” There is scarcely a 
number of it which does not contain something interesting to the 
veterinary practitioner; and we cordially recommend it to the 
attention of our brethren. 
This Essay on “ Factitious or Mule-bred Animals” was ori- 
ginally inserted in “ The Exeter Flying Postr\ Y. 
I BELIEVE it to be a fact generally admitted, that it is beyond 
the reach of human ability to exceed the limits prescribed by nature, 
by uniting two distinct species of aboriginal animals, and thereby 
producing a factitious one capable of reproduction. I say, of re- 
production; because on this capability alone does the weight of my 
argument repose; considering it the only criterion by which actual 
proof can be satisfactorily established. 
We must all admit that the great Author of the universe, in his 
unspeakable mercy and condescending goodness to gratify the 
wishes of his favoured created being — Man, — has permitted him to 
indulge his desires, or to carry his researches so far as to allow the 
breed of a factitious hybrid animal by one cross; but here, I contend, 
and shall endeavour to prove, the bar is fixed. “ Thus far shalt 
