TRANSLATIONS FROM CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 617 
abundant, perhaps, than those which are produced by the 
aquatic plants, may after a time act on the organization of 
the weaker animals, and finish by undermining the general 
health of the different herds of cattle whose fate it is to 
he constantly exposed to the influence of these emanations. 
It is, therefore, not surprising to see typhus decrease 
where the land is cultivated, and also wherever agriculture 
advances slowly, but progressively, penetrating more and 
more into the Steppes, thereby reducing their vast extent, 
The cultivation of those plants which require weeding by the 
frequent stirring of the soil are best calculated for most of 
these soils, while they contribute more efficaciously and more 
promptly than all others to neutralize the pestiferous action 
of the miasma which is set free from soils under certain 
circumstances. This is proved by the fact that when typhus 
is transferred by contagion into those governments where it 
never is known to occur spontaneously, the losses are always 
very great, because the cattle of these governments live 
under local terrestrial impressions absolutely different from 
those of the Steppes. It is thus that we find the typhus 
from the Crimea penetrate with the convoys of provisions 
into Siberia; and when thus contracted, even the cold, 
when at a very low degree, is not intense enough to stop it 
altogether, but only to lessen its ravages. The maize is the 
only weeding plant to which preference should be given for 
cultivation in these districts, for it also furnishes to man and 
cattle a wholesome and abundant nutriment when well cul¬ 
tivated. This cereal, so useful and interesting, is very easily 
gathered,and has, moreover, the advantage of permitting other 
plants to be grown between its rows. Those which are best 
adapted for this purpose are turnips, beetroot, cabbages, 
haricots, potatoes, peas, beans, and hemp. As the inhabi¬ 
tants of these districts are not much inclined to a vegetable 
diet, these products would be excellent food to fatten cattle 
and sheep, and thus become converted into animal food of a 
much better quality than the coarse meat which is sold for 
only fifteen centimes the kilogramme at Odessa at the 
present time. 
As to the transmission of typhus by means of skins and 
other products into some of the governments of Russia, this 
is another reason for forbidding the exportation of skins, &c., 
of animals that have died of typhus beyond the limits of the 
Steppes. It is well known that hair, wool, skins, horns, &c., 
even after having crossed the sea, have after a time been 
capable of causing grave affections in those persons who had 
to handle them; for example, the hairs brought from Buenos 
