BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 
635 
The list of papers was very long, and time prevented many of the 
subjects being brought forward, as also so full a discussion of those 
which were submitted as might have been possible. However, on 
Friday, 13th August, Mr. Ceely, the veteran worker in comparative 
pathology, demonstrated the true and false cow-pox in the animal and 
in man, and some other eruptive diseases of the cow and the variola 
bovina ; and the variolation of the cow, and the transfer of the resulting 
lymph to man.” Though upwards of eighty years of age, he treated his 
subject in a manner which commanded respect from his hearers, however 
they might question the conclusions to which his observations lead. 
Then Dr. Francis Vacher, Medical Officer of Health, Birkenhead, opened 
the discussion on Diseases communicable to man from diseased animals when 
used as food. He treated, then, in order the following diseases of lower 
animals : 
1. Rinderpest, which has been considered to become typhoid fever or 
smallpox in man. There is no evidence to substantiate this idea. 
2. Pig Typhoid has been compared with smallpox and enteric fever, 
but seems not. to be either of these disorders. Professor Axe’s work on 
this subject was alluded to, but not considered conclusive. 
3. Pleuro-ptieumonia Epizootica .—Of this there are three fairly well 
recorded instances by Livingstone, Letheby, and Gamgee. But it is 
questionable whether these were true cases of lung disease, or anthrax. 
4. Foot-and-mouth Disease is certainly communicable to man. 
5. Erysipelas is very probably communicable to man. 
6. Tuberculosis. —Creighton’s cases, as recorded recently in the Lancet, 
were alluded to, and it was shown that they are even remarkable for the 
entire absence of historical connection with bovine disease. The question 
of the identity of bovine and human tuberculosis was discussed, and it 
was stated that in the former disease there is no emaciation (!) The 
difference alleged to occur between the position of the giant cell in the 
two diseases was noticed, as also Virchow’s opinion of the sarcomatous 
nature of tubercle. There is strong evidence that this disorder is com¬ 
municable to man. 
Mr. George Fleming, who had prepared a paper, preferred to base 
some impromptu observations on the remarks of Mr. Vacher. He noted 
the omission of glanders in the opening discourse, and thought in these 
days of progressing hippophagy this disease also ought to be con¬ 
sidered in this relation. He then treated of each of the diseases which 
had hitherto been mentioned, quoting evidence for and against the views 
previously advanced. He expressed his opinion that it is better to inter¬ 
dict all suspected meat, and alluded to a recent observation of M. Tous- 
saint concerning the communication of tuberculosis to lower animals by 
inoculation with serum of the blood of a phthisical man. This has a 
most important bearing on the urgent question of animal vaccination. 
Dr. Syson then in a few words gave his views on this subject, and 
mentioned Dropping after Calving as a disease omitted from Dr. Vacher’s 
list. 
In the course of a short discussion, Dr. Cameron, of Dublin, urged 
the deleterious properties of pleuro-pneumonic flesh. 
The President expressed his sense of the importance of the question, 
and a resolution was passed requesting the Council of the Association to 
form a committee to inquire into the matter before the grand Inter¬ 
national Meeting to be held in London in 1881, when doubtless it will 
receive all the attention it deserves. 
The papers by Dr. J. II. Bell, On Anthrax from Mohair in IFool- 
sorters, and Anthraccemia from Mohair in IFoolsorters and Heifers , w r ere 
