368 ANALYSIS OF CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 
and talented members of the veterinary profession, in a line of 
research which particularly pertains to comparative physiology 
and pathology, cannot but be acceptable to the readers of 
the Veterinarian . An analysis of these lectures and confer¬ 
ences would neither do justice to the subject, to their high 
merits, nor yet to their eminent author; I shall therefore 
offer no apology for giving them in extenso , feeling assured 
that in doing so, I shall have the approval of those for whom 
the translation is made.) 
THE INTIMATE CAUSE OE VIRULENCY. 
Gentlemen, —I purpose to commence this year a series 
of conferences on the virulent maladies which have been 
the special object of my studies in comparative pathology 
and experimental medicine. The plan I propose to lay 
• before you consists in initiating you, in furnishing the mono¬ 
graph of a small number of given maladies, to the conquests 
which the intervention of the experimental method has 
permitted science to make on the subject. I do not see my 
way at present to the possibility of uniting, in a complete 
synthesis, the disjointed elements of this analytical study, 
in order to transform it into a general theory concerning 
virus and virulence. However, to-day I stand before you, to 
address you about virulent maladies considered in a general 
manner. Why am I not faithful to my first intention ? 
Have I then modified my views as to the opportunity of 
establishing a tentative systematisation of the physiology of 
viruses ? Certainly not. Even to-day I regard this tentative 
as premature. To determine me to pursue this course, even 
with that excessive prudence and reserve which you will see 
me exercise at each step that I shall take, it was necessary 
that powerful considerations should exercise the most ener¬ 
getic pressure on my resolutions. 
What are these considerations ? They are of two kinds. 
The one order has only the weight which attaches to parti¬ 
cular interests. The other, much more important, belongs 
to the general interest of science. I will crave your permis¬ 
sion to say a few words on both of these points. It is now 
many years since I commenced my researches with the view 
of throwing light on the nature and mode of action of virus. 
Although a small number only have been published, the 
public has always been kept au courant with these investiga¬ 
tions. For my two laboratories—that which is at my own 
house, as well as that which is at the Veterinary School— 
