EDITORIAL. 
433 
Animal Origin of Contagious Diseases of Mankind.— 
The question of the origin of certain diseases of the human con¬ 
stitution which appear to be derived from related affections in the 
lower animals, has for the last few years occupied the attention 
of both physicians and veterinarians, and the publication of much 
valuable literature has at various times given evidence of the 
interest of the subject, and shown the results of the minute ob¬ 
servations and important discoveries which have rewarded the 
investigations of the students and scholars whose researches have 
tended in this direction. *> 
Of the diseases of this class which have^attracted the largest 
amount of attention on both sides of the Atlantic, probably none 
has excited a more wide-spread interest or become the subject of 
more careful and earnest study than s carla tina. 
Numerous observations and experiments have been made in 
this direction in England, notably by Dr. Klein, which, though 
not admitted as conclusive, and even controverted by other Eng¬ 
lish authorities, are all familiar to veterinarians. The reports 
published by Dr. J. Strickler, some years ago, on the same sub¬ 
ject, are also strong evidences of the interest which the subject 
has excited on our own continent; and a paper read by that gen¬ 
tleman at a recent meeting of the Academy of Medicine in New 
York, on “ Foot-and-mouth disease, and its relation to human 
scarlatina as a prophylactic,” is of so interesting a character that 
we are induced to reproduce it in the columns of the Keview, 
and accordingly begin to reprint it in our present number, in 
which it is copied from the Medical Jdecord. It will doubtless be 
read with interest, and while we cannot adopt the conclusions to 
which the author seems to have been led by the experiments re¬ 
ported, we are constrained to accord to the Doctor great credit 
for the labor he has undertaken, and, so far, accomplished. 
To one point, and one which involves considerations of great 
importance, we feel compelled, with Professor Law, who partici¬ 
pated in the discussion of the paper, to interpose, as sanitary vet¬ 
erinarians, a most decided objection. It is, that if foot-and-mouth 
disease virus is necessary to decide its prophylactic effect against 
scarlet fever, it is better that the experiments should be instituted 
