746 TRANSLATIONS FROM CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 
others, which can be foretold with unerring certainty, as in 
the case of splenic apoplexy. Let us draw a comparison 
without going out of the nosology of the ovine species. Mange 
and variola ovina ( clavelee ) are incontestably contagious. Do 
they follow the same individual rules and exceptions of 
age or condition ? Certainly not. The last so little, that of 
three epizootics of the variola there were only 2 or 3 per 
cent, in many flocks which escaped the infection ; moreover, 
I have seen some infected ewes drop their lambs with the 
skin covered with variolous pustules. If other proofs are 
wanted, I may state that I have often seen flocks of sheep 
attacked with splenic apoplexy where the mortality was not 
more than 3 or 4 per cent. Can it, then, be reasonably ad¬ 
mitted that a malady is contagious when the losses are limited 
to so small a number ? A fact even more conclusive is that 
all the communes in this district contain a certain number 
of sheepfolds (lergeries) which are all situated in the centre 
of the village. There are thus from eight to ten flocks of 
sheep which respire the same air in a somewhat limited space ; 
moreover, they are apt to meet several times a day in the pas¬ 
ture, watering places, and on the roads. If the malady were 
transmissible by contact, opportunities would not be wanting ; 
but that it is not so is proved that after the prevalence of the 
enzootic some flocks have not lost one, and that others have 
only lost a small number, while, on the contrary, some have 
been decimated. My readers know how easily farmers are 
alarmed when their interest is assailed ; if, therefore, they had 
the slightest suspicion that the malady were contagious, would 
they not at once apply to the cantonal authorities to have the 
law of sequestration put in force ? 
In his article in the Recueil M.Moisant, veterinaire d Chdteau- 
dun , puts this question : Should the sanitary laws be enforced 
against splenic apoplexy? He asserts that in the month of 
August M. Roger, a farmer at Fresne, having lost a great 
number of sheep from splenic apoplexy, removed his flock to 
a farm in the commune of Droue (Loir-et-Cher), after having- 
obtained permission of the proprietor, M. Joseph. In conse¬ 
quence of thus moving the flock, M. Roger was condemned 
by the Tribunal Correctionnel of Vendome to pay a fine. After 
the flock of M. Roger had left, M. Joseph removed his own 
flock to a farm he had in Beauce. Some sheep died the first 
week after their arrival, in consequence of which M. Joseph 
was also summoned before the tribunal of police, and con¬ 
demned to pay a fine. M. Moisant was requested to draw up 
a memoir on the subject, which was produced before the tri¬ 
bunal, and ran as follows:— u Splenic apoplexy {sang de rate) 
