EDITORIAL. 
483 
ists, in a somewhat embryonic way, something like a materializa 
tion of the abstract fact in the Commission on Swine Plague 
already in operation. Besides this, we may also allude to the 
commission or committee appointed by the Union Stock Yards in 
Chicago, for the prosecution of special investigations in Texas 
fever, in which the appearance of the names of Dr. Stalker of 
Iowa, and Dr. Casewell of Chicago, are good proof that our peo¬ 
ple have not remained quite indifferent to the study of at least 
these economic and domestic branches of science. 
The composition of the Swine Plague Commission, which had 
been appointed by Commissioner Coleman, has been somewhat 
modified, Dr. Meade Bolton being appointed in the place of 
Professor Welsh, who has found himself unable to perforin the 
duties of the position. Thus constitued, the commission has en¬ 
tered upon their work, and after some labor performed in Balti¬ 
more, have adjourned to South Carolina. Their report cannot 
fail to include facts of a very interesting character, and it will be 
watched for and carefully studied by breeders, pathologists and 
veterinarians, as well as all others who may feel a scientific or 
commercial interest in the subject. This interest has been highly 
intensified by the expression of antagonistic opinions by Drs. Sal¬ 
mon and Billings, the two most conspicuous of the biologists 
among those who have made a special study of this most danger¬ 
ous and troublesome scourge. And this is in fact, not a mere 
personal discussion between adverse American scientists, but is 
also a contention of opinion which involves the investigators of 
Europe, as well. It has recently engaged the pathologists of 
England, and among these an article by Dr. Klein in the Veteri¬ 
nary Journal for December last may be cited, as of interest and 
value, under the title of “ Remarks on the Etiology of Swine 
Fever.” 
In this Dr. Klein says : 
In his most recent publication on swine-plague, Mr. Salmon maintains (Re¬ 
port of the Commissioner of Agriculture for the year 1886) that the infectious 
disease of swine known in America as hog cholera or swine-plague, in this coun¬ 
try as swine-fever or swine-plague, really comprises two different infectious dis¬ 
eases: (1) one disease is chiefly localized in the large intestine—haemorrhagic ul¬ 
cerative enteritis—this is the hog cholera; (2) the other is chiefly an affection of 
the lung, the swine-plague. 
