Experiment 1.

A healthy "Down" sheep was placed in a shed on the 6th of September with the affected Merino for twelve hours, and afterwards removed to a sufficient distance, so as to preclude the possibility of the disease being subsequently communicated by infection. It was daily watched, and no appearance of indisposition presented itself until the morning of the 16th of September, when the animal was observed to refuse his food, to be dull and dispirited, and otherwise to manifest indications of febrile excitement. On examination of the skin, on the inside of its thighs and arms, numerous eruptions in the form of red isolated patches were seen to exist; thus proving that the disease had been produced by contagion.

Sept. 17th.-The eruptions are less perceptible to-day than they were yesterday, and the animal's general health remains nearly the same.

Sept. 18th.-The eruptions have become more numerous, also more elevated, and of a deeper red colour.

Sept. 20th.-Inperfectly formed vesicles cover the whole surface of many of the nodules, giving to them a blanched appearance. Some of the smaller vesicles are rounded at their summits, but the greater number are flat, having slightly raised margins, but no distinct areola surrounds them. The patient's health has improved, and the appetite returned.

Sept. 21st.-The cuticular covering of many of the less developed nodules has assumed a brown colour, indicative of approaching desquamation; and a still greater number of the tuberculous elevations have presented themselves on the inner part of the arms.

To-day the animal was seen by Mr. Ceeley, of Aylesbury, who has given to the subject of vaccination much attention, and he at once recognized the disease as true variola. Being anxious to carry on some experiments with the ovine lymph, several points were charged by him from the vesicles.

Sept. 22d.-Some of the nodules are disappearing without

passing through the several stages. Others have their surfaces still covered with small vesicles. The earlier formed ones have the cuticle of a browner colour, which is being detached in the form of a scab, but no formation of pus is detectable beneath it.

Sept. 23d.-A few of the scabs on the prepuce are of a still darker colour, and are surrounded by a whitish raised border, from which a small quantity of purulent fluid can be pressed.

Sept. 24th. The animal may be reported as approaching convalescence. The majority of the crusts have become detached, and the exposed surface presents a healthy appearance.

The attack in this instance was the mildest we have yet seen; but the result has been perfectly satisfactory, and the deductions to be drawn from it are obvious, no interference whatever having been given to the progress of the disease throughout its various stages.

Experiments 2 and 3.

Sept. 13th.-An Irish sheep, in perfect health, was this day inoculated, using for the purpose the cuticle removed on the 7th inst. from the surface of the nodules in their second stage, the cells of which were charged with lymph. A portion of it was inserted inside the fore arm and the ear, by puncturing the skin with a lancet, and separating it from the subcutaneous structure, the cuticle containing the virus being placed in the space thus formed.

Another sheep was similarly inoculated; but in addition to the portions of epidermis, some pus, procured from an animal in the ulcerative stage of the malady, was also introduced underneath the true skin.

Sept. 14th.-Inflammation, apparently of a common character, surrounds the incisions in both animals; the inflammatory action, however, is greater in the one where the pus was used.

Sept. 15th. The inflammation has increased in both, but particularly in the sheep inoculated with pus, the fore limb of which is swollen, hot, and painful, associated with lameness, and some febrile action has been set up in the system. Matter is beginning to be formed in all the incisions.

Sept. 16th.-The suppurative action has become fully established;

which has every appearance of being only the result of ordinary inflammation. Both the animals feed well.

Sep. 21st. During the intervening days, the wounds have freely discharged pus of a healthy character, and the sheep are now apparently in perfect health.

Sep. 22d.-Both patients this morning are dull; they refuse food, keep themselves separate; lie down frequently; their heads droop; the ears are lopped; the countenance is anxious; the conjunctival membrane reddened; the pulse increased in frequency, and the breathing accelerated. An eruption has made its appearance on the inner side of the fore arms in each sheep, which presents the true character of ovine variola.

Sep. 23d. The animal into which the pus was introduced in addition to the cuticle suffers more than the other. The mucous lining membrane of its nostrils is highly inflamed, and the secretion from it considerably increased, flowing over its lips; the pulse is much quickened; the respiration very short and painful; the conjunctiva inflamed, and tears trickle down the face; all food is refused, and the febrile excitement is great, but the eruptions are not more numerous than they were yesterday..

Experiment 4.

Sep. 21st.-Assisted by Mr. Ceely, I inoculated a sheep on the inside of the fore arm. Several very small scratches were made with the point of a lancet, through the epidermis only, in different places; and upon these some transparent dry lymph, procured from vesicles five days previously, and moistened with a little water, was rubbed; the limb was kept extended afterwards until the blood which had exuded became dry.

Sep. 22d.-The skin is inflamed, thickened, and raised in a fold, extending a short distance from the places of inoculation to the front of the leg.

Sep. 23d. The integumental inflammation is somewhat less, the stratched cuticle is elevated, has a yellow aspect, and contains a whitish purulent secretion. The animal's general health appears to be unaffected.

[Our readers will observe that experiments 2, 3, and 4 are of necessity incomplete. The progress of the disease in those animals will, however, be carefully watched and faithfully recorded. We have been desirous in the present number to put them in possession of a knowledge of the fact of the existence of this direful malady, which is new to this country; and in our next we hope to be able to give proofs of its communicability to other animals, or otherwise, of the modes of treatment, and also the means of prevention, or of mitigating its virulence. Very many experiments will, of course, be required to ascertain the necessary information connected with these facts.

Up to the present time we have not been informed of the disease shewing itself in other localities than those already referred to; yet we expect such will soon be the case, as several lots of affected sheep have found their way into Smithfield Market and been disposed of. We regret also to be obliged to add, that the measures hitherto adopted have not proved effectual in preventing its fatality. Mr. Statham, in whose flock the malady first shewed itself, has lost sixty by death, and been compelled to sacrifice eleven others.]

EXPERIENCES RELATIVE AUX EFFETS DES INHALATIONS D'ETHER SULFURIQUE.

Par A. THIERNESSE, Professeur a l'Ecole de Médécine Vétérinaire et d'Agriculture de l'Etat, &c.

UNDER the above title we have received three brochures from the author, which contain extracts from the bulletin of the sittings of the "Academie Royale de Médécine de Belgique,” of March 27, April 24, and May 29, 1847.

They refer to a series of experiments on the inhalation of the vapour of sulphuric ether, instituted at the veterinary school of Brussels by the Professor M. Thiernesse. We were quite prepared for so important a discovery as that of a means to render man and animals insensible to pain during operations quickly finding its way to our continental friends; who, perhaps, even more than ourselves, are disposed to resort to the use of the surgeon's knife,

and, perhaps, to wield it with greater dexterity. We enter not here upon the consideration of the question, if it is not sometimes unnecessarily had recourse to by them. Our business is with the advantages and disadvantages resulting from the use of an agent which, doubtlessly, mitigates suffering, but which we fear, from cogent reasons, cannot be employed by the practitioner of veterinary medicine with the same facility and certainty and safety as by the human surgeon.

We have before expressed our conviction, that ere the ether vapour can, without fear of any ill consequences, be resorted to for the horse, a method must be devised by which he shall not injure himself in falling, or by which he may be placed in such a position that the required operation may be performed. To 'cast" the animal, previous to the inhalation of ether by the aid of hobbles, &c., which appears to be the plan adopted at the veterinary school at Brussels, removes one of the advantages which we had hoped to derive from the use of ether, since this is a source-fortunately not a very fertile one-of very serious and annoying accidents.

We by no means consider the difficulties which present themselves insurmountable, but, as yet, we are not aware that any one has directed his attention to overcome them. We have before alluded to a suspensory band being passed under the animal's body, fastened over his back, and then connected with a pulley, by which he may be lifted from the ground when under etheric influence, and then let down on his side, or in any other position while in this state.

Another object of consideration is the expense incurred. From four to six ounces of ether are required for each operation on the horse; and this involves a heavy outlay in an extensive practice.

Thirdly; although "the merciful man is merciful to his beast,” yet we fear this feeling does not extend itself to the necessary surgical operations on the lower animals; and, therefore, when the question of increased cost is mooted, the owner will be regardless of the momentary sufferings of his slave, and direct the operator to adopt the old method as heretofore.

The above remarks, it will be perceived, apply principally to the horse: the smaller animals may be very easily etherized, and with