506 
SCHOOL AT ABOU-ZABEL. 
stant, and abounded with important observations on the domes¬ 
ticated animals of these countries, and the diseases to which 
they were most subject. Among other things, he says that, 
“ the breed of cattle in Egypt is generally poor in constitution, 
and neglected. Epizootic diseases frequently effect the most 
dreadful ravages among them ; sometimes they devastate the 
country to such a degree, that men are harnessed to the plough 
and to the cart, in order that the land may be, although imper¬ 
fectly, cultivated, and some subsistence obtained.” 
The buffalo and the camel rank among the domesticated ani¬ 
mals of Egypt, and are exceedingly serviceable. Asses are very 
numerous : they are docile ; they are fed upon almost anything, 
and are well suited to arid and sterile countries. 
The camels are very subject to mange, and are ordinarily 
cured by the Bedouins, with a liniment composed of oil and sul¬ 
phur. In obstinate cases they have recourse to tar; and when 
every thing else fails, they apply as a remedy par excellence —the 
ne plus ultra ,—an oil extracted from the seeds of the colocynth of 
Sennaar. 
Glanders and farcy are common in these districts of Africa; 
but there is much analogy between the farcy there and leprosy. 
A belief in the contagiousness of farcy and glanders seems not 
to be perfectly established in Egypt; for the people never destroy 
the horses that labour under these diseases. 
An affection rare in our climate, but frequent in Egypt, is, 
softening of the substance of the liver in the horse. M. Hamont 
failed in the treatment of this disease when he employed anti¬ 
phlogistic means; but with acetate of potash, and calomel and 
bitters, judiciously combined, he frequently succeeded. 
M. Girard thus concludes his report:—“ These extracts from 
his correspondence will, I am sure, suffice to shew the indefati¬ 
gableness of this estimable veterinarian, who, contending against 
a thousand difficulties, and amidst all the embarrassments with 
which the establishment of so grand an institution for veteri¬ 
nary instruction must necessarily surround him, could find suf¬ 
ficient time to occupy himself in the pursuit of science. It is 
incontestible, that since his sojourn in Egypt, M. Hamont lias 
