RABIES AMONG THE ALBRIGHTON HOUNDS. 17 
some of them were degraded to the position of stewed pears ; 
but, alas ! even in this state they had no flavour. We think 
it is Alexander Dumas who, in one of his novels, makes the 
remark that “ there is no ripe fruit in England except baked 
apples /” but even these, in the present year, are deficient in 
flavour and aroma, and the little cider that has been made 
will bear no comparison with that of the warm previous 
summer. 
From these facts, then, we arrive at the conclusion that 
herbage, even in a temperate climate, requires heat and sun¬ 
shine to ripen it, that it may develope all its qualities, and 
that this, being deficient herbage, will be poor in feeding 
qualities, or, as the farmer expresses it, will be “ without 
proof.” 
We fancy the same facts would be arrived at as the result 
of a careful analysis of corn, for we hear on all hands that 
pulse and the cereals are very inferior to those of 1870. 
RABIES AMONG THE ALBRIGHTON HOUNDS. 
By F. Earl, M.R.C.V.S., Shifnal. 
In Mr. Hill's criticism of my paper upon “ Rabies,” which 
appeared in the November number of the Veterinarian , I 
notice some mistakes, which, no doubt, have been inad¬ 
vertently made, and therefore I may, perhaps, be allowed 
to set Mr. Hill right with regard to them. It is quite true, 
as Mr. Hill says, that the professional oversight of the 
Albrighton kennels rests with Mr. Cartwright and himself, 
as it is also true that no other veterinary surgeon had the 
opportunity of taking part in the post-mortem examination of 
the first two hounds which were attacked. It is not, 
however, correct that I had no opportunity of watching the 
symptoms exhibited by these animals during life. 
It is well known to the majority of your readers that it is 
customary with veterinary surgeons, in the country, to 
send animals that may happen to die under their care to the 
kennels; just as gentlemen in a town would send them 
to the knacker's yard. Such being the case, and the 
Albrighton kennels being only a short distance from 
Shifnal, it can be readily understood that I sometimes have 
had occasion to attend there for the purpose of making a 
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