SYNOPSIS OF CONTINENTAL VETERINARY JOURNALS. 325 
ease. Study of the anatomical lesions in these cases is very 
instructive, it enables us to state that the commencement 
of the disease is at the mouth or pharynx as well when we 
have to deal with the Lucern simply impregnated, as 
with the same associated with matters capable of injuring 
the animal. Hence we must allow that when the disease is 
communicated by a food which seems incapable of producing 
injury, wounds must have been previously present. But it 
is well worthy of note that we have observed that in spon¬ 
taneous charbon the lesions have their special seat in the 
anterior part of the alimentary canal. At the time of death 
they are there most advanced, and it is thence, without 
doubt, they have been enabled to extend to the intestines and 
to all the body, probably, through the lymphatic system. 
We draw the following practical conclusions, supposing that 
our premises will later on receive more certain confirmation : 
charbon is communicated spontaneously to animals by food 
covered with Bacteria germs, but only when these animals have 
wounds, which they then give themselves during mastica¬ 
tion, such as are insignificant as regards the general health, 
but very important in this respect. Thus the disease occurs 
only with difficulty, even where the germs abound. Many 
reasons show why great heat and a very dry season give in¬ 
creased number of cases of charbon. The simplest (but not 
the least probable) is that heat increases the tenderness and 
distension of the buccal mucous membrane, and so its liabilitv 
to abrasions. Also a drought involves the liability to wounds 
by increasing the amount of mineral dust ingested and the hard¬ 
ness of certain portions of the food. Thus, if it is true that 
charbon germs are everywhere distributed more or less, but 
especially where the disease is enzootic, there is a very simple 
prophylactic means against the spontaneous development of 
the affection. Let the breeder diminish, as much as possible, 
all causes of injury of his animals, especially in the mouth, 
everything in the food which may abrade, such as thistles 
and similarly penetrating plants. During winter avoid very 
dry foods as straw; moisten such, or, preferably, allow them 
to ferment with green forage. Precautions, also, must be 
taken against siliceous dust of roads. It is advisable besides, 
to avoid every means of diffusion of charbon germs by animals 
which have died from the affection, for it is probable that 
the Department of Eure-et-Loire contains these germs in 
greater quantity than other departments, because charbon 
has been long established there, and the disease persists 
there, for its victims have never been so treated as to des¬ 
troy the charbon germs. So, very similarly, the mulberry 
