234 
SUNDRIES AND ITEMS. 
supervision of competent veterinary surgeons ; but in the suburbs 
and in the provinces such supervision exists in name only. 
On the other hand, says M. Rochard, if sausages made from 
horse meat may be eaten in Paris without any danger arising 
from their consumption, the manufacturers who sell them without 
indicating their true nature deceive the public and carry on a dis¬ 
honest competition with the pork butchers. For this reason, 
says the writer, it is fortunate that such a practical and sure 
method has been discovered whereby this deception may be re¬ 
vealed. 
The method consists in treating a bouillon which is obtained 
from the suspected product with idolized water. If it contains 
horse meat, no matter how small the quantity, a peculiar vio¬ 
laceous reddish-brown color will appear. The experiments 
made by M. Edelmann and M. Brautigan have been tested and 
verified in M. Nocard’s labratory and under his personal super¬ 
vision. The procedure is easy and does not call for a com¬ 
plicated outfit, the description of which may be found in 
M. Nocard’s report to the board of health which appeared in the 
Compte-rendu des seances du Coiiseil for February, 1895. This 
report ends with the statement that the board of health voted, 
without discussion, that the manufacturers of sausages made 
from horse meat should attach a special label to the sausages 
indicating their true nature. ( Medical Record). 
— 
Foot and Mouth Disease Attacking Human Beings.— 
A cablegram announces that physicians throughout Europe are 
somewhat apprehensive of the spread of what is described as the 
human form of the foot and mouth disease, which has been, for 
a considerable time, prevalent in Berlin. Specialists who have 
investigated declare that the bacteria are identical with those of 
cattle suffering from the complaint. They report the pestilence 
as dangerous, and say it is causing frequent deaths among human 
victims. Professor Virchow and a committee of the Berlin 
Medical Society are making an investigation of the milk, which 
is said to be the usual vehicle of the contagion. (Medical Record). • 
