280 
Analysis of Continental Journals. 
By George Fleming, M.R.C.V.S., Royal Engineers. 
VIRUS AND VIRULENT MALADIES. 
During the invasion of epidemic cholera in 1849, we learn 
from a report presented to the Paris Academy of Sciences in 
the name of the commission appointed to award the prizes 
in medicine and surgery, that M. Breant instituted a prize 
of 100,000 francs for “ whoever should discover the means 
by which Asiatic cholera could be cured, or ascertained the 
causes of this terrible scourge/’ Since 1854, when the 
Academy received the legacy, the prize has not been won, 
and it is probable that a long time will elapse before it is 
carried off. Nevertheless, in accordance with the intentions 
of the testator, the Academy has every year awarded the 
interest of the sum named, as a recompense for researches 
which have tended to the advancement of science with regard 
to the cholera or to any other epidemic or contagious malady. 
This year the commission has fixed its attention on the ex¬ 
periments of M. Chauveau in reference to virulent maladies 
and their virus. 
Since the commencement of medicine, virulent and con¬ 
tagious diseases have been the object of numberless opinions 
and hypotheses; but problems of this kind—so complex in 
their nature—cannot be elucidated by discussions and argu¬ 
ments, and it is now' understood that they are only to be 
solved by attentive observation and most carefully conducted 
experiments. For a number of years M. Chauveau (of the 
Lyons Veterinary School) has undertaken experimental re¬ 
searches on viruses, and with so much perseverance and success 
that already his efforts have yielded highly important results. 
M. Chauveau’s early investigations were directed to the com¬ 
position of vaccine virus. By ingenious and delicate ex¬ 
periments, he has been successful in dividing the contents of 
a vaccine pustule into two portions—a vaccinal serosity and 
molecular granules—so as to be able to inoculate them 
separately and comparatively, either on one or on several 
different subjects (child, horse, or cow r ). 
The result of these primary comparative experiments have 
brought him to the conclusion that the vaccinal serosity is 
not virulent, and that the activity of the virus resides in 
the solid granules. Afterwards, on examining the effects of 
dilution on the vaccine virus, M. Chauveau has observed 
