The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-08-08 00:00:00

OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.

Regarded as a public calamity, a plague amongst
cattle is only second in importance to a plague amongst
mankind, and it is impossible to peruse the accounts
which daily reach us of the malady now so prevalent in
the metropolis without having serious apprehensions of
scarcity, if not of decided famine. Experience teaches
us that rialamitlea of this nature come, generally
speaking, without much warning. Such is the rapid
progress of contagious diseases, and such the consterna-
tion which usually accompanies them, that a scarcity
may really be at hand even while we are congratulating
ourselves on a prospect of plenty. When we hear of
one dairyman losing as many as 65 animals within a
fortnight, and another having 70 beasts all struck down
by a foul and almost hopeless disease, it is time to feel
something like alarm, and to bestir ourselves in trying
to discover a speedy and effectual remedy. It is not
always that the origin of these mysterious complaints is
so easily traced BS in the present instance. The murrain
appears to have been brought over by foreign cattle. filo
far we know that it is accidental rather than national.
Still, it is not sufficient to have ascertained the cause
lof the evil. Steps must be taken to arrest its progress
and to prevent its recurrence. There seems to fie no
doubt that great carelessness has existed in the,tranii•
mission of cattle both abroad and at home. Slaps hays
been left unwashed for weeks and months, and railway
trucks the same. Animals have been huddled together
in utter defiance of the laws of health, and as if they
were lacks of corn instead of creatures endowed with
life. It is astonishing how little we have learnt, even in
these days of investigation, in the matter of animal pre-
servation and care. There is, indeed, the greatest
ignorance on the subject. These much maligned
animals, the pigs, would not be the enemies to our
health and our offactories were they only treated with
ordinary care and attention. Insteed of which they
are allowed to wallow in the foulest filth until this state
has become a second nature to them. Certain thought.
ful individuals, whose efforts have been deemed emelt-
trioities rather than advice worthy to be followed, have
tried experiments on these animals even to the extent
of daily washing and combing, bestowing upon them
something like the attention which human beings gene-
rally receive, and with a success truly astonishing. It
was discovered that a freshly made bed every morning,
a clean skin and combed-out bristles produoed pork in
quicker time and of a much better quality than under •
the ordinary plan ; showing in an unmistakeable manner
that animals, though not gifted with reason, possess
some of the same feelings and necessities as the "lords*
who so mush abuse them. The same effect is clearly
observable in the ease of the horse, which too frequently
"oabin'd, cribb'd, confined," in stables reeking with am-
monia, with little light and much less ventilation. It is
known perhaps that after along journey this useful crea-
ture delights in a sprinkled face, or a walk through a
mind, but all else is utter ignorance; and although noble-
men, and those who derive large profits from training
horses from the turf, are fully aware of the advantages
of pure air and cleanliness, the majority of stables
throughout the country are nothing better than "black
holes." Man scarcely ever attends to the laws of nature
until he is made to smart severely for his neglect. The
disease now so prevalent is a lesson which we trust will
have due effect. Why should cattle, which owing to
an ever increasing demand, are imported in large
numbers in this county, be treated as if they had no
feeling and no life ? Why should they be thrust into
unwholesome cabins full of stench and vermin ? Why
should they be overcrowded, or be deprived, as
they often are, of necessary food and drink? All these
questi ns may by some be deemed unimportant, but in
the interest of the public they are really of the greatest
consequence. Our owe as well as foreign governments
will do well to give the matter their serious attention.
There should be officers appointed to see that proper
regulations regarding cattle on board vessels are strictly
carried out. Animals should be rised as well as
passports, and the examination of luggage is not more
necessary thin the inspection of sheep and oxen after a
long and tiresome voyage. At all events we cannot
afford to have our beasts decimated in the fearful way
we are now experiencing. Within the month of July
2,000 head of cattle were lost to their owners in London
and its neighbourhood. And this at a time when the
attention of Government is directed to the present
high price of meat. For a long time past it has been
felt that unless some change takes place, meat will soon
be beyond the reach of middle class consumers. Not
that the scarcity is a had sign in itself, for it is a proof
that owing to an increased prosperity, the consumption
is much larger than it used to be. But there has been a
wastefulness in the slaughtering of lambs and calves,
which the Government are at length endeavouring to
correct. This therefore is not a time when a disease in
cattle is to be lightly regarded and we would urge on the
authorities the necessity for energetic as well as
immediate action. Let everything be done that can
be done, and let no time be lost in the effort. Take
measures not only of remedy but of precaution, and let
the misfortune—dire though it be—bring with it
lessons that shall teach us how to treat those dumb
creatures which are more the less sensitive because they '
cannot tell us theirneeds and sufferings. A belief prevails,
however. that Professor Gamgee and the veternarians
are putting the worst face upon the matter. The
devastation of the murrain among the London dairy
stock has not appreciably increased the price of meat,
butter, or milk during the last month; and although
the metropolis has been the chief theatre of the plague,
we have to await its spread throughout the country to
feel it effects in still more enhanced prices. But with
this prospect before us, and the liability to consume
diseased meat or milk, there is enough to make us
apprehensive. I sincerely trust, however, that prompt
me stores will be taken to root out the murrain from
among us; though, whether the endeavour be successful
or net, the imminent possibility of a meat famine,
added to the present scarcity of the article, seems to
me to point more conclusively than ever to the desire
Willy of importing cheap preserved meat in an eatable
state from the great grazing grounds of Australia and
South America.

But, in these days of awfully dear meat, it is rather
cheering to find an invention which will give us cheap
chickens. Mr. Carlo Minasi (a name familar to one as
that of the pen-and-ink artist, who produced some
wonderful drawings, but I know not whether it be the
same or • eon) has invented a hydro-inonbator. I shall
not attempt to explain the machine, but suffice it to
say that it acts as no "hatching by steam" ever acted.
BAgs are turned into chickens in about the same time
as ordinarily, but they can be hatched in any quantity,
which is more than can be said of the ordinary method.
A 8 an exhibition this hydro-incubator is not particularly
interesting, but as an invention it is curious, and
perhaps may prove to be important. One thing i 3
I certain, that the sopply of both fowls and eggs is not
equal to our wants.

Mr. E 'T. Smith's "Monstre Balloon" (this is Cre-
morne, French, or English, which you please) he
amended from his gardens, and descended in aafety. I
hardly thought it would do as much, for as I watched
the course of the "elephantine machine" across the
south-western suburbs of London, I trembled for the
safety of the passengers. Anything more uncouth in
appearance than this so-called navigable balloon could
not be well imagined, espeoially after the graceful out-
line of the pear-shaped machine to which we are
accustomed. lies that Mr. Smith, in his advertise-
ments for the second ascent, says that "without asserting
that M. Delamarne can actually navigate his balloon, we
declare that he has surprised us into the belief that it is
possible to do so." This is very guarded language from
the proprietor of Cremerne Gardens, and sounds like
as awkward confeasion of failure. For myself, I don't
believe that a machine construotecl on M. Delamarne's
plan can ever be steered against the direction of a cur-
rent of air, while sailing in the air itself. Every sailor
knows that independent motion in a vessel isneoessary to
give steerage power; and the small windmill.like paddle-
wheels on this balloon must be of insignificant force
compared with that of a breese upon the huge surface
of the balloon Itself. Os* might as well attempt to
paddle a coal-barge on the Thames against stream or
I this as to make head &galena wind in such a balloon.
Meanwhile, the novelty of a quasi mientifio experiment
will ill the Cremorne coffers (ll the weather Mould only
be a little more favourable for the next ascent). ; and
this is all the practical result I anticipate from the
" monster balloon."

The weather is indisputably an Englishman's stock
topic of disoourse, and you mast not be surprised if I
avail myself of it for a paragraph, in these politically,
nodally, and atmospherically dull times. Nothing seems
to make London so dull as a wet day; bat, you may
say, that is a .tridam whiah holds good of the whole
country. Net exactly so; for if one 4 &farmer watching
the min descending upon one's land, there is a certain
excitement, pleasurable or otherwise; ittending the
spectacle. Everidrop is so much in pocket or out of it, ,
.amording to the exigencies of agrisoltnre ; but here,
where the direst use of rain cannot be sees, wet days
and deed; shies mem to be regarded ae a simple
nuleanen-411at Is, after they bare performed the service,
,110 neomeary a Meek or two ago, of 010611111 the *tams-
pliers and the bet dagatones, upon 'which, to cans
metaphor of Yankee Imarell,
."many a pair of males
Lketti Med. Well. there'll ionly 'one epeciee'ef WM-
diri4 i)lty niore than a poor London' tbrntspontleart In •
b list a*fe have baCf'durinifjhs pist efeetrsod-
*64l64 faieNiittltAkckliz aliPiltin 0414 likiglitia

- .
.•uemydqm. sioulw fil t.,[11 SI Si the.
LUvskli,travai JUL: