572 
C. H. SWEETAPPLE. 
investigation and destruction of all diseased animals, with inocu¬ 
lation of all those in health, an outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia 
may be arrested at once. And very many instances are recorded 
in support of this opinion. The danger we are menaced with is 
certainly a grave one, and calls for a sound policy and vigorous 
action. “ Be sure you are right, then go ahead,” is a good 
motto. 
The slaughter of whole herds of cattle, and everything that 
they may possibly have come in contact with or have been in 
proximity to, is a costly process, and we cannot tell how far it 
may have to extend. It is also impossible to be certain that none 
of the virus has escaped beyond our knowledge. In the spring 
of 1884 the stamping out process was advocated for the outbreak 
of ergotism in Kansas, Missouri, etc., and thousands of dollars 
were voted, I believe by the Kansas Legislature, to be appro- 
pi iated for the wholesale destruction of cattle, buildings, fences, 
etc., under the erroneous idea that it was a contagious disease. 
But better counsels prevailed; the disease died out with the 
spiing s change of food from the ergotted hay to wholesome pas- 
tuiage, and the stamping out process in that instance became the 
laughing stock of the country, and for its advocates a tumble on 
the Parnassian Hill, from unsound footing. Is it not well to look 
at both sides of a subject, to carefully pick our steps ? Ours is a 
pi ogressive age, and our profession has made enormous strides in 
the last decade. The discoveries of Pasteur, Koch and others, 
valuable as they are, have often not been immediately accepted. 
Piophylactic medicine is a branch of science that has a special 
bearing on our profession and on the well being of the country at 
laige. In no caiping spirit, but with the idea of giving your 
readers the views held on inoculation by some of the most promi¬ 
nent men in our profession in Great Britain, I have written, as I 
believe this side of the subject has not received much attention 
on this side of the Atlantic. In regard to the disease on this 
continent at the present time, all light should be shed on it that 
is possible, and should the benefits claimed for inoculation prove 
to be correct, a wonderful stride in our ability to arrest this 
formidable disease will have been achieved. 
