412 
D. E. SALMON. 
healthy ones ; and that, finally, stables once infected cannot be freed 
from the contagious germs in less than three months, and are not safe 
for six months or a year, we can understand why this is one of the 
most insidious and dangerous of diseases, and why its extinction re¬ 
quires the utmost care and most rigorous sanitary measures. This dis¬ 
ease is not indigenous to America, and there is no reason why our 
farmers should be made to suffer the terrible losses which will most 
assuredly follow as soon as it spreads over a little more territory. When 
first introduced, the disease could have been easily stamped out ; but 
neither the general government not our State legislatures, with one or 
two exceptions perhaps, would take the proper steps to accomplish 
this, principally because loud-mouthed ignoramuses were continually 
asserting the mildness of the disease, its curability and its non-con¬ 
tagiousness. 
INOCULATION. 
I cannot go into a discussion of these questions in this communi¬ 
cation ; but I stand ready to prove each and every assertion I have 
made, if it becomes necessary. The first duty is with the general or 
State governments to stamp out the disease, but if this duty is neglected, 
then it becomes the duty of farmers to protect themselves by having 
animals exposed to the contagion, or those likely to be exposed, inocu¬ 
lated, and thus save themselves from loss. 
It would be interesting as well as more satisfactory to the general 
reader if I could give the complete history of inoculation, with de¬ 
tailed results of the many experiments made in the investigation ; but 
the space which this would require makes it necessary for me to pass 
it in silence as well as many other points connected with the subject. 
I shall, therefore, confine myself to what is strictly practical and 
essential. 
PATHOLOGICAL RESULTS OF INOCULATION. 
The introduction of the virus into the tissues of healthy animals 
has produced the most varied results. In some cases there has been 
little if any more disturbance than would be expected from the wound 
made to receive the inoculating material ; in other cases there was con¬ 
siderable swelling and inflammation, and the formation of abscesses at 
the point operated on ; again, dry gangrene manifests itself with re¬ 
sults varying with the point affected ; while, at times, gangrenous 
tumors have appeared near to, or at some distance from the point of 
inoculation, either causing serious disturbance of the health, or de- 
I 
