588 HAMONT AND FISCHER ON THE 
vious inflammation. Less than any other animal, the sheep is 
disposed to inflammation; nevertheless, we often find a great 
number of tubercles in its viscera. Lymphatic subjects are 
oftener attacked by them than the sanguineous or the nervous. 
These morbid productions have been found even in the foetus; 
they arise, and they increase in organs essential to life without any 
indication of their presence. We often see them situated in the 
very thickest substance of the lungs without any trace of inflam¬ 
mation in the surrounding tissues. Magendie produced them 
at pleasure in the guinea-pig by unwholesome food. Contrary 
to the established principle that tubercles are the effect of inflam¬ 
mation, some have said that these morbid productions, so common 
in cold and wet countries, are rarely seen in warmer climates, or 
where the animals perspire freely. 
Observation has shewn the fallacy of the commonly received 
opinion. In Egypt, at Cairo, at Abou-Zabel, the temperature is 
elevated ; but the animals are generally subject to tubercles. It 
is natural, then, to look out for other agents which may contribute 
to the formation of the bodies of which we are speaking. We 
have traced the development of tubercles in the liver and heart 
of mangy pigs : we have first seen round hydatids filled with 
a limpid fluid ; afterwards cysts, compressed and empty: in 
another place vesicles containing a caseous substance, and, by 
their side, little pouches filled with a hardened gritty matter. 
Reiterated facts observed by us, both in Egypt and in France, 
and numerous comparisons of morbid productions, have led us to 
the following conclusions, that tubercles are found in warm 
climates as well as in cold and damp ones; that irritation is not 
the sole cause of their production ; and that the kind of food has 
much to do in the formation of these substances. 
Veterinary authors have differed much in their opinion as to 
the seat of rot: Chabert has placed it in the fluids—Morteau 
considered it to be a verminous disease—Heurant-Lamerville 
describes it as a dissolution of the blood, an alteration of the 
fluids generally—and M. Hurtrel d’Arboval, as we have said, be¬ 
lieves it to be a symptom of phlegmonous inflammation of the 
digestive passages. 
It seems to us to be perfectly demonstrated by the history 
which we have given of it, that the rot in sheep is an essential 
or primary disease—a true metatrophy ; and consisting of a de¬ 
composition of the blood, caused by vegetable substances de¬ 
prived of their nutritive juices. 
We recommend to all veterinarians the study of the article on 
the Rot (Pourriture), by M. d’Arboval, in the 3d vol. of his 
Dictionary. They will find a succinct, very concise expose of 
