284 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
destroyed sheep, and had had the spinal canal opened within ten minutes after 
death, and he had found the organism which he called bacillis, and the existence 
of which seemed to be doubted by the writers of the paper. He had done so, 
not once, but hundreds of times, and he thought he was justified in arriving at 
the conclusion that that organism had something to do with the disease, lie had 
not, as his critics said, “ perpetrated a huge joke at the expense of the Highland 
and Agricultural Society.” He had too much respect for the members of that 
society, to whom he himself and the veterinary profession in Scotland were very 
much indebted, and lie could not think of any other object the writers had in 
view than to damage him in the eyes of the members of that society. He be¬ 
lieved, however, that the paper was the work not of two men, but of one. They 
had thought proper to tender him, who had worked with the microscope proba¬ 
bly before either of them was born, a beautiful piece of advice in their conclud¬ 
ing remarks. Their third commendation to him was that “ the disease must b( 
excited in the body of a healthy subject by infecting it with a portion of such a 
pure cultivation.” That was quite enough for him. They were all aware that 
pleuro-pneu nonia was a contagious disease, and he would ask if any man hac 
ever induced that disease by inoculation? (A voice, “Never.”) The feet wer< 
knocked from under them by that third recommendation. But there wer 
other errors in the paper which proved to him that it was written by a prentic 
hand. 
Professor McFadyean said nobody denied that pleuro-pneumoma was con 
tagious, but that was a different thing from saying that it was due to a micrc 
organism. . 
Principal Williams said that if Professor McFadyean took that line he wouf 
deny anything, for he (Principal Williams) maintained that it was a micro-oi 
ganism. 
Principal Williams and several of the other gentlemen who had taken part 1 
the proceedings, left the meeting at this stage; and the President said, as som 
of those who had gone had spoken somewhat strongly regarding the authors ( 
the paper, he thought it would be perhaps well that the reply of Dr. Woodhea 
and Professor McFadyean should stand over till next day. 
Mr. Bell, Carlisle, said he should be happy to come there the next day ai 
hear the discussion, but on reading the latter part of the paper he could not b- 
think that the attack made on Professor Williams had been a personal one.. 
Dr. Woodhead said that for himself he preferred to give his reply in tl 
presence of Professor Williams. It struck him that the speakers had put do? 
as personal what he regarded as a purely scientific matter. No one had a great 
admiration for Professor Williams than himself, but he felt that too much hi 
been made of the personal question, which had not weighed with him at all. 
Professor McFadyean concurred in Dr. Woodhead’s remarks, and sai 
would have a few words to say next day for the benefit of Professor Willian: 
and for some other gentlemen who had measured his corn in their bushel. 
On the motion of Mr. Bell, the discussion was adjourned till to-day, and t 
company separated shortly before six o clock. 
THE LUNCHEON. 
At the luncheon in the afternoon, which took place in the Waterloo Hot 
