572 
Facts and Observations. 
Poisoning by Cow-bane (Cicuta virosa) .—Our colleague, 
Professor Cobbold, who is on a tour in Brittany, writes to us 
to the effect that Monsieur Barrier ( Veterinaire en Premier 
and Director of the Depot de Remonte de Guingamp , Cotes 
du Nord) has brought under his notice an extreme instance of 
poisoning by this plant. Fourteen cows were seized with 
violent symptoms of vertigo, which supervened in less than 
two hours after they had partaken of this well-known um- 
bellifer. Eleven of the animals perished; the first one at the 
expiration of six hours from the time of the first appearance 
of the symptoms. Nothing effective could be done in the 
way of cure. The three animals which recovered had doubtless 
eaten a comparatively small quantity of the poisonous herb. 
Dr. Cobbold finds that the plant is abundant in Brittany. 
Cattle Imports. —From the annual report of the Veteri¬ 
nary Department of the Privy Council Office it appears 
that the total number of animals imported into Great Britain 
from all countries in 187S was as follows:—From Euro¬ 
pean countries we received 103,049 cattle, 808,378 sheep, 
37,648 swine; from Canada and the United States we re¬ 
ceived 86,439 cattle, 84,072 sheep, 17,953 swine; from the 
Channel Islands and other small countries we received less 
than 3000 head; while from Ireland we received 729,221 
cattle, 642,999 sheep, 470,547 swine—making a total of 
3,043,090 animals, against 2,958,441 in 1877. 
Hydrophobia. — A case of this malady is reported from 
the outlying village of Drayton, in Somerset. Edward Miller, 
51, was, as far back as three years ago, playing with a little 
dog belonging to Mr. Gillard, when he was bitten in one 
of the hands. There was a slight wound, which was cauter¬ 
ised by Mr. Brooke, a surgeon of Langport, and it soon 
healed. On Wednesday morning, July 9th, Miller com¬ 
plained of a pain in the part which had been bitten. Mr. 
Brooke was called in, but Miller died from hydrophobia. 
Rabies in France. —The Standard of July 7th says that 
it appears from official statistics just published that no fewer 
than 103 persons were bitten by mad dogs in Paris and its 
suburbs during the past year. Of these thirty are known to 
have died from hydrophobia. About 500 mad dogs and a 
score of mad cats were killed by the police during the year. 
In July and August alone as many as 4730 stray dogs were 
taken to thefourriere, and all but 200 were killed. This war 
of extermination against the canine race naturally led to a 
falling off in the amount of hydrophobia, and the authorities 
