TRANSLATIONS FROM CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 745 
ticularly subject to attacks of this enzootic. Ewes in lamb 
and those which are suckling their lambs are less subject 
to it, and it is also very rarely attacks those which are under 
twelve months old; lambs are altogether free from it, which 
likewise holds good with individuals weakened by old age, 
poorness of living, or chronic diseases. The nature of splenic 
apoplexy is clearly revealed by cadaveric autopsy ; the blood 
is found everywhere black and disorganized; this black, 
pitchy, putrid mass distends the spleen, and is accompanied by 
gelatinous infiltrations of a citrine colour, disseminated over 
the divers regions of the body. Finally, the short duration of 
the malady, and the speedy putrefaction of the dead bodies, 
all concur in establishing the essentially charbonous charac¬ 
ter of the malady. To those who have still a doubt I would 
observe that the blood retains its putrid, malignant character 
till after death. Thus it has happened that shepherds and 
butchers have been effected with malignant pustule after 
having skinned animals which had died of this disease. Many 
people have assured me of their having suffered from gastric 
derangements, and of the appearance of malignant pustules 
on different parts of their bodies, after having eaten of the meat 
of animals which had been slaughtered on being affected with 
this enzootic. Splenic apoplexy is but one of the numerous 
types under which charbonous affections manifest themselves, 
and which have been with reason described as protean in 
form. In the present state of our knowledge this form would 
seem to be confined to three species of our domestic rumi¬ 
nants—the ox, the sheep, and the goat. Splenic apoplexy 
is not contagious. In support of the contrary opinion it 
must be observed that the malady breaks out simul¬ 
taneously and successively in several individuals, but this 
is not a sufficient proof, as many other affections which 
prevail in sheep follow the same course without being con¬ 
tagious. A great number of facts and peculiarities, care¬ 
fully observed during the evolutions of this enzootic, contra¬ 
indicate its contagious character. One need only call to mind 
what has been stated about individual predisposition to 
explain the preferences and exemptions which are regularly 
observed at every annual outbreak of the malady. If it were 
contagious, is it likely it would have certain categorical rules, 
to spare the old and debilitated animals as well as lambs ? 
Amongst the latter it sometimes happens that they are suck¬ 
ing their mothers with impunity w hen these are already struck 
by a fatal attack of the enzootic. This is not the case with those 
maladies which are really contagious ; they strike all, indis¬ 
criminately ; there is no sparing of some or exemptions of 
xxxv. 48 
