308 
THE ETIOLOGY OF BLACKLEG, ETC. 
The parallel between two years of such opposite nature 
must be incontestably useful in enabling every one to appre¬ 
ciate the part played by great beat and long droughts in the 
production of sang de rate. This is rendered more evident 
by our subsequent observations. 
1856. Atmospheric Variation. —During the past six months 
permanent humidity and moderate temperature. In May, 
overflow of the rivers and inundations of the valleys. Great 
heat; the temperature rising in July and August from 29° to 
34° Cent. The autumn was tempered by rains, happily dis¬ 
tributed. 
Influence on Flocks. —No mortality in spring. It was not 
until after the burning heat of July and August that sang de 
rate appeared on certain farms, and then rapidly disappeared. 
Conclusion. —This favorable result should be attributed 
in great measure (1) to the idea of contagion commencing 
to be entertained; (2) to the order of M. de Grouchy, then 
Prefet of the Eure and Loire, in which, after enumerating 
the laws and orders relating to the sanitary police, the 
honorable magistrate ordered the agriculturists to bury 
their dead animals, and told the slaughterers not to com¬ 
mence until they had given notice to the mayor, &c.; (3) to 
the abundance and salubrity of the water of the ponds and 
lakes. 
1857. State of the Atmosphere. —Temperate, not too dry, 
not too humid during the first six months. Storms of rain 
and heat, which damaged the hay and harvest in July, espe¬ 
cially from the 12th to the 15th of the month; the thermo¬ 
meter rose to 95°. Favorable alternation of dryness and 
heat in autumn. 
Consequences in Animals. —Sanitary condition satisfactory 
at the commencement and end of the year. Sang de rate 
appeared here and there after the July heats, and the mor¬ 
tality in some flocks reached from 10 to 20 per cent. 
1858. 1859.—After a long and great drought all the ponds 
dried up, and remained part of the year without water. 
Vegetation, after having sprouted vigorously, was stopped in 
such a manner that the artificial grapes and oats, which had 
looked well in May, were dried up under foot. In conse¬ 
quence of the scarcity caused by this drying up, a great 
number of agriculturists, afraid of being short of food during 
the winter, diminished their flocks, either by selling at a 
low price, or by ceasing to breed. As a consequence of this 
state of things, we should expect, if, as it is believed, the use 
of an abundant nourishment is a principal cause of sang de 
