286 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
close yesterday in the Highland Society’s Offices, George IY. Blidge, Edinburgh, 
Principal Walley, of the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College, again presided. 
MIOKO-PAKASITES IN ANIMALS. 
The first business was the reply of Dr. Woodkead and Professor M’Fadzean 
to the discussion on their paper on “Micro-Parasites of the Domestic Animals,’ 
which was adjourned from the previous day because of the absence of Professor 
Williams, whose views on louping-ill in sheep were combatted, by the esssyists. 
Principal Williams was again absent yesterday when the discussion was resumed. 
The President said he regretted the tone of the discussion on this papci, for there 
was an immense amount of really good and valuable material in it. While 
acknowleding the amount of work done by Professor Williams and those asso- 
dated with him, he could not agree with him that louping-ill was due to such an 
organism as that which he had discovered. He (the President) looked upon 
louping-ill as purelv and simply a dietetic and climatic disease, and not due to 
any parasitic organism. The presence of such organisms in sheep was accidental, 
and by allowing the blood to get out of order they could be produced in the human 
body. It was admitted by practical shepherds in Roxburghshire and elsewhcr. 
that thev had only to turn cattle on to the pastures at the end of the season ana 
they would get rid of louping-ill, thus proving that it was simply a dietetic dis- 
Dr. Woodhead disclaimed any intention on the part of Professor MTadzear 
or himself of conveying insult to such a distinguished man in the profession af 
Principal Williams. They apologized to Professor Williams for anything that lit 
might construe into a personal insult—(applause)—but they did not retract a sin 
gle statement as to the matters put forward by Principal Williams in his report 
to the Highland and Agricultural Society on louping-ill. Micro-organisms wen 
a debateable point, but they believed the evidence was in favor of a single specie: 
at some particular stage of its life being the pathogenetic agent of the disease 
and as a rule, that pathogenetic organism was found m only one stage ot 1 
existence. He hoped Professor Williams would continue his researches into ta 
causes of louping-ill, although he dissented from the conclusions at which he ha 
arrived as the result of his investigations. 
Professor M‘Fadzean also expressed regret that the element of personally 
had crept into the discussion and he specially resented the remarks of Mr. 1 ut 
erford, whom he did not consider the censor 9 f professional ethics. The remarK 
of Professor Williams had caused him great annoyance, beeause of his assertio 
that he (Professor M‘Fadzean) had been endeavoring to discredit him in the eye 
of the members of the Highland and Agricultural Society. That assertion cii 
him great injustice, and did Professor Williams great dishonor, for nothing coui 
have been further from his intention than to reflect on Professor Williams’ pos 
tion in regard to that Society. He had a great admiration for. Principal VYi 
hams’ work, but he was not to be debarred from criticising his writings or pu 
statements, and while he admitted that Principal Williams was a great pram 
tioner, as a bacteriologist he was nowhere. Professor Williams had tnefl 
throw dust in the eyes of the Association, and had avoided the main pom s < 
the paper. He declined to be drawn into a statement as to what share Dr. oo 
head and himself had had in writing the paper; but he might say that ro es 
