294 
FRANK S. BILLINGS. 
prised at the occurrence of an error, even during adult life, and 
still less at a more advanced age. 
Veterinary Honors. —Our veterinary exchanges from Eng¬ 
land bring us the following interesting item : At the meeting of 
the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Dr. Fleming proposed 
the name of Dr. Huidekoper, of the Veterinary Department of 
the University of Pennsylvania, as an Honorary Associate of the 
College, which was seconded by Prof. Walley and unanimously 
carried. We offer our sincere congratulations to our confrere for 
this well deserving recognition of his efforts on behalf of our 
profession during the last few years. 
I 
ORIGINAL ARTICLES. 
THE NATURE OF THE AMERICAN SWINE PLAGUE 
IN REGARD TO ITS PREVENTIVE TREATMENT BY VETERINARY 
POLICE AND HYGIENIC METHODS. 
By Frank S. Billings, D.V.M. 
Director of the Experiment Station and Laboratory of the University of Ne_ 
braska for the Study of Contagious and Infectious Animal Diseases. 
[Read before the Massachusetts Veterinary Association by its Secretary, Dr. L. 
H. Howard.] 
Ho disease that occurs in animal life has but one cause. This 
axiomatic fact applies equally as well to contagious and infectious 
diseases as to others. 
In order that we may be able to prevent a given disease, it is 
absolutely necessary that we first arrive at a correct conclusion as 
to its exact and real nature. Hypothesis will not do. Without 
exact knowledge as to the nature of a contagious or infectious 
disease, all attempts at its prevention will prove futile. A knowl¬ 
edge of the real nature of a contagious or infectious disease is of 
far more importance, in considering means to prevent it, than a 
knowledge of the character of its specific cause—the causa suffi- 
ciens. We may know how a given factum acts long before we 
may be able to discover the thing acting. By removing its means 
of action we may prevent the action, though the thing itself may 
continue to exist. 
