EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
725 
to give reliable information, have suppressed facts, as if 
the memories of those who tested their experiments bad 
entirely failed them, and documentary evidence bad no 
existence. Notwithstanding this, we have resolved to 
bear reproach for a time rather than expose the doings of 
some. It would, however, have been far otherwise bad 
the smallpox of sheep been extending, as then our duty 
would have been to speak out boldly and without reserve. 
One caution alone we now give, and that is, to warn 
farmers against building their hopes of preventing the 
disease on a wrong foundation. Experiments of the vacci¬ 
nation of sheep are worth but little unless tested by the 
counter-proof of inoculation. 
Under these circumstances our readers will learn, with 
much satisfaction, that the whole subject is to be thoroughly 
investigated by order of the Government. No less than 
200 sheep have been purchased for the purpose, and the 
experiments have already been begun. Mr. Marson, Resi¬ 
dent-Surgeon of the Smallpox Hospital, and Professor 
Simonds, are commissioned to conduct the experiments, 
many of which will be dictated by the Medical Officer of 
the Privy Council, and be under his immediate supervision. 
Thus the question bids fair to be set at rest for ever, and 
England to be placed in a position to tell the world how 
much preventive value against variola ovina belongs to the 
vaccination of sheep. 
Among other things it is proposed to procure lymph 
direct from the cow for use on the sheep, and in this many 
of our friends, especially those residing in dairy districts, 
can render the commission important assistance. We ask, 
as a favour, that veterinary surgeons will be on the look¬ 
out for natural cases of cow-pox, and that they will procure 
a supply of lymph from every pure case of the disease 
they may meet with, for the use of the commission. Lymph 
is best taken in capillary glass tubes, but these not being 
at hand, it may be secured on ivory points ; and if so, 
these should be charged two or three times in succession. 
The chief care, however, will be needed in selecting the case, 
for, as our readers are aware, the genuine pock is rare among 
cows, but ordinary eruptions on the teats very common. 
