EDITORIAL. 
265 
Hoffmann on the prophylaxy of foot-and-mouth disease, where 
he insists, in the first place, upon the strict application of most 
severe sanitary measures, with also the improvements of the 
hygienic conditions of the animals, especially of those which 
would avoid the propagation of the buccal lesions to the digital 
extremities of the animal. For Hoffmann, the ungueal lesions 
are due to the flow of the virulent saliva along the fore legs, and 
he advises that means should be taken to collect this saliva, not 
to let it drop on the bedding of the animal, and also to protect the 
claws by the application of an antiseptic ointment. Of course, 
immediate slaughter is imperative. He considers that if the 
disease appears in an establishment, it is better to prevent its 
spreading rather than try to fight against it. But to do this he 
advises to use for the vaccination a saliva whose virulency has 
been reduced by heating or the addition of an antiseptic. By this 
a mild form of the disease could be obtained. 
Going further, Hoffmann considers that the milk of the sick 
animals may prove a good preventive and curative agent if ob¬ 
tained aseptically, has its virulency reduced, and is injected asep- 
tically in the peritoneal cavity. He claims to have obtained good 
results. 
With the description of these prophylactic suggestions, Hoff¬ 
mann has brought out a new form of treatment, which consists 
in using under the shape of an ointment or in suspension in water 
of an antiseptic known for some time, the enguform, a combina¬ 
tion of formol or guaiacol. Local treatment consists in quinine 
and hot blankets. The results are reported as instantaneous, 
“ Desiccation of the aphtse, disappearance of the pains, return 
of the milk secretion.'’ This treatment has nothing new; its prin¬ 
ciple remains on that of all the classical treatments known. God 
knows how many there are. 
* * 
If, after all, the question as treated by Hoffmann does not 
possess great value, except its actuality, that treated by Dr. L. 
