774 
INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 
different story ; for there the notary, Mons. P. Le Falc’hier, 
informed me that there were last autumn three distinct sets 
of poisoning cases in the neighbourhood; one in the village 
of Little Carhaix (which is probably the instance referred 
to by M. Barrier); another in the village of Croasmir (the 
animals belonging to a cultivator named Joseph Dantee) ; 
and another in the village ofK’garion (the victims belonging 
to M. Francois Conau). He could not tell the exact num¬ 
ber of animals that died, but, taken altogether, it consider¬ 
ably exceeded that which the single set of cases implied. 
I have given these few particulars, not merely on account 
of their general interest, but also, partly, because I wish 
to amplify, likewise to correct, the short notice which 
appeared in the Veterinarian for August, and, more especially, 
because the cases do not appear to have been published ; at 
least I was so informed. Further, in reference to what I 
was saying a little while ago as to the difficulty of keeping 
large collections of living plants in perfect order, I may 
observe that neither in the Alfort Gardens, nor in the Jardin 
des Plantes , nor in the exquisitely kept Botanic Gardens at 
Rennes (in which, through the introduction of my friends, M. 
Bagot and Professor Sirodot, Chief of the University there, I 
spent several pleasant hours), was there asingle living specimen 
of cowbane to be seen. Two of the above-mentioned gardens 
showed stunted and imperfect specimens of the water drop- 
wort ( CEnanthe pliellandrium) , but the spaces occupied by the 
labels of the common dropwort ( CE . crocata) were plant¬ 
less. In the great Parisian collection there was no black 
border to indicate the fact that the species last named was 
really poisonous. On the whole, as regards the Brittany 
poisoning cases, I am inclined to think that they were all 
due to CEnanthe crocata , the virulence of which is generally 
recognised. In my former address allusion was made to the 
comparatively recent English instance, in which no less than 
forty-three oxen perished.* It will not be altogether out of 
place if I mention another curious experience. At Carhaix 
itself, a place of nearly 2000 inhabitants, I learned that the 
nearest veterinary surgeon lived at Morlaix, upwards of 
twenty miles distant. I was further told that there was 
little call for the professional man’s services, since it was 
the custom of the less cultured proprietors, by payment of a 
small sum, usually ten francs, to secure the services of the 
* See The Lancet for June 28th, 1873 ; and also for September 20th, 
1873, (p. 441). For further references consult also Dr. E. J. Waring’s 
recent classical work (‘Bibliotheca Therapeutica/ vol. ii, p. 502), where 
the memoirs of Bloc, Gayet, and Pickells are quoted. 
