442 
M. L. TRASBOT. 
extremities, where the dermis and epidermis is very different ; this 
explanation then, for us, loses considerable of its value. Is it 
not rather at the point of entrance of the veins that the eruption 
is greater ? From the few examples reported before, this pos¬ 
sesses a greater amount of probability. 
And if this was once well established as a fact, it would bring 
us to select certain parts on which to practice the inoculation, and 
I believe it will one day be an economical measure to prevent the 
losses from the accidents which so often complicate this dis¬ 
ease. 
However, it is positive now that equine variola, limited or 
confluent, is a simple affection radically curable when its eruption 
takes place without interference. Coming fortuitously, either by 
a kind of primitive elaboration of the virus in the equine organ¬ 
ism, if this is possible, or by an accidental inoculation whose 
mechanism is almost always unknown, or that it has been commu¬ 
nicated by experiment, in every case it leaves the animals in 
perfect health after its regular evolution. A few r small pale spots 
may sometimes be seen upon glabrous surfaces, and still these 
disappear with time. The subsequent deposit of pigment on 
the narrow circles they form conceals them entirely. There is no 
more doubt about this. Facts accumulated for years are so 
numerous that they form together a certain and irreffragible proof. 
We can then affirm to-day without fear, that equine variola is the 
least serious of all those which are peculiar to man, sheep, pig, 
turkey, dog, Ac. 
Why is it so inoffensive compared with the others ? This is a 
problem which has yet to be solved. But it is well known that 
preserving its eruptive form, it does not kill; not only in the 
different zoological species on which it has been inoculated and 
in which it remains local, but even in the species to which it 
belongs. Here, even though it may be generalized, life runs no 
risk as long as the disease is not interfered with in its evolu¬ 
tion. 
This being admitted, let me give the reasons why I consider 
horse-pox not only simply as the analogue of other variola, but 
also the true natural form of gourme. The reasons from which 
