[Two epidemic diseases in Blois region in the 19th century]

Lathyrism is an ancient neurological disorder caused in human by food contamination with seeds of Lathyrus species. Based on new documents, this paper describes the exact sanitary actions done in the discrict of Blois in 1829. Official reports due to Dr. Desparanches, M.D., describe clinical cases, causes of the disease and its extension in the population. A bacterial dysentry occured mostly in children and poor families in the summer of 1858 in the same district. An official report due to Dr. Monneau, M.D., describes the extension and possible causes of the diseases. In the two reports, sucessful pharmaceutical treatments and public sanitary measures are described.