532 
CONTAGION OF THE FOOT-HOT. 
1. In a greater proportion of water (for in ordinary urine 
water only constitutes seven-eighths of this fluid). 
2. In the presence of acetic acid, which is in part free; and, 
3. In the absence of any earthy carbonate, which exists in 
great quantity in the urine of a horse in health. 
There was no saccharine matter, as in human diabetes. 
Annales de Chimie , et de Physique , Aug . 1830. 
Proofs of the Contagion of the Foot Rot, 
By M, Sorillon, Jan ., Veterinary Surgeon at Abrac . 
1. On the 4th of September, 1824, M. Piene Vidal, butcher at 
Abrac, never had had the foot-rot in his flock, which then con¬ 
sisted of forty-six sheep, of which two were rams. He lent one 
of his rams, for the purpose of breeding, to M. Troussain, and 
which was put among the flock of that gentleman, consisting of 
thirty-six sheep, the greater part of which were affected with the 
foot-rot. On the 7th of October he was returned very lame; and 
M. Vidal knowing nothing about the foot-rot, and paying no at¬ 
tention to the lameness, placed him among his sound flock. 
Whether from negligence or ignorance, it was not until the 11th 
of December, that the shepherd informed his master that since 
the return of the ram sixteen of his sheep had become lame. 
Being desired to visit these animals, I soon recognized the foot- 
rot : six of them had three feet diseased, five two feet, and the 
other five only one. 
2. In April, 1825, the flock of M. Vidal was entirely renewed, 
and consisted of fifty-two sheep : not one of them was lame. His 
sheepfold was clean and airy, the dung often removed, and the 
litter always fresh. Towards the end of the month he hired ano¬ 
ther shepherd. He, in spite of the caution that had been given 
him not to suffer his flock to pasture in company with those 
of other butchers, suffered them to mingle with those of M. 
Guimard, a butcher in the same place, and in whose flock the 
rot was general. On the 11th of May, M. Vidal wished me to 
examine two sheep and six lambs that were lame. They were all 
affected with the rot. Their separation from the flock, and other 
precautions, preserved the others from infection. The eight were 
likewise soon cured, but were not suffered to mingle again with 
the others during the remainder of the year. 
3. About the end of June 1826, Mr. Vidal’s shepherd had, 
without the knowledge of his master, and contrary to his express 
orders, again suffered his flock to pasture with those of other 
