The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-09-12 00:00:00

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DORSET COUNTY EXPRESS

DORCHESTER, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1865

be reaehed. We feel that repugnance to
place complete reliance on statistics which
must ever arise from the sense of incomplete-
ness in the thing in which we are asked to
trust. Yet few things in public, in political
industrial, or private edotiottly are calculated
to render greater service than Statistics, just
as some theorems in mathematics from being
in themselves imperfect, ftteilitate the most
difficult calculations hy their very differences
and discrepancies. thtis to statistics we owe
insurance science, and the tables of Mortality ;
and in connection with these, some of the
most valuable sanitary measures that in a
manner regulate the public health. But as
Lord Stanley remarks, we owe to the imper-
fect collection or conception of statist
facts, also many fallacies not only regarding
the death-rate amongst various classes of the
population, but regarding the consumption
of natural or artificial products, and many
other things, which renders it important that
statistics should be canvassed and discussed
in public, and the conflicting -views derived
from them as far as possible elicited and
cleared tip, But the British Aesociittion in
its doted
'things
seeticlns detoted eandideratithi
to Many things less theoretical than this.
in the section of geology, Sir Roderick
Murchison has developed new ideas of the
denudation of valleys, arid now boldly scouts
the tiotioti that the lairilowing, Mud-Collect:.
lag Avon at Bath ever scooped out its own
channel—still more when we follow it to
Bristol and observe it passing through the
deep gorge of mountain limestone at Clifton.
Whilst in the section of geology and ethnology
(kept united despite the efforts of our an-
thropological . flierlde to get ii Seetidn td
themselves), Sir Henry Rawlintion, our new
member for Frome, brought forward the new
lake discovery of the Albert Nyanza by Mr.
Baker on the Nile, and announced the advent
of M. Vambery, the most intrepid of Asiatic
travellers. We are glad to think tilt an
obelisk is proposed to be erected in London
in honour of Speke of the Nile. More practical
still, Mr. Bessemer in person brought forward
in another section the details of his steel
manufacture for tiscussicm, and conferral
dilhenlial benefits y the exposition or ita
capabilities.
IV.—At last the country seems to be
impressed with a proper sense of the ap-
proaching danger, and to be making the
necessary provision against a calamity which
it seems almost impossible to avert.
Whether the complaint' be indigenous or
imported, is of little consequence. It is
amongst us, and is mill the more djástrou
because it is affecting foreign countries as
well. When a disease appears simultaneously
in various parts of Europe, and moreover
crosses the channel it may be regarded to all
" intents and purposes as indigenous, and
although it is wise enough to pay every at-
tention to quarantine regulations; the prin.
dipiil Mint towara Which out' erieliet should
be directed, iii how to prevent the disease front
breaking out in the midat of omit' healthiest
herds. All intectioua di4easee are elf
niysterithis ofigitt. Typhus, Cholera, or entail
poi always appear where and when we least
expect them, the safest as well as the most
tangible plan being to consider that they are
wafted like seeds by the atmosphere. We
should do well therefore to look upon the
Rinderpest, despite its foreign name, as a
disease likely to appear at any, moment and
hi any Part rit the land—as likely etitna in
fact, as the mouth and hoof complaint and
other epidemics. It is mere folly for farmers
to argue that because they reside in remote
parts of the kingdom, and rarely change their
stock, they are free from danger. We are
glad, therefore to. observe that et the su •
gestiOn 014 the dovernment acting throng
the poor-law mithOrities, our agricultural
fiend s are setting their houses in order.
The eittablishinent of Difittiet Infterance
Sbeletiee for mutual protection, is a wire add
necessary step to take. By means of this
plan it will be in the power of every yeoman
and cowkeeper to provide against loss at a
comparatively trifling expense. In some
neighbourhoods it has been deeitied sufficient
ehtirge nierely Sixpence a head on the Whole
Of ari iiurifs Otticit, limiting WS liability to
ten shillings ft-hetii.. Perifend COnifietent to
give an opinion have pronounced this rate to
be adequate for the purpose, though of course
the calculation is based on the presumption
that numbers, and not isolated individuals will
avail thetwlves of the opportunity for in-
aurinee. Fernier', will do Well to bear in
mind that it is the many that can help the
few, and that unless there is something like
a genuine putting of the shoulder to the
wheel, the evil they so much dread cannot
posollhl, be prevented. The individual ex-
penditure at arranged in the plan alluded to
above is, as We have shOvin, not time,
over should no casualties occur within a given
time, the Money wduld be returned to the
inkirefr. But While belie Wise precautions
are being taken, we must not dortgrattilate
ourselves on having accomplished all that is
necessary to be done. The best societies in
the world Will not stave off the disease,
neither will the richest ftinds rash° amends for
negligence in the ordinary treatment of cattle.
We have said that the Rinderpeet is mysterious
In its origin, but theta hi nothing wonderful or
illysterloilit in the fait that filth promotes disease,
and cleanliness averts it. There are exception!!
We know; Typhus sometimes visits the palace
but it did not originate there, and if every Louse
were a palace, and hovels were not in existence, 1
It ill probable that Mani, of the diseases itith I
*hihituttlitind is now sillicted would be
unknown. So we may be very sure that inatten-
tion to the housing, feeding and ordinary cure of
cattle will predispose theta tb thp infection of
Whatever disease might be looking out for
bietims. Every railway truck must be as
systematically cleaned as the sheets in which a
human being sleep*. No animal should be
*noted tip drink, Water that is not perfeetly pure
Mid free froth taint. too often the poor co* or
horse has no better means of refreshing itself
than the pond in the centre of the barton into
whldh flows Continually the °wrings from the
Stall and stable. Such things have hitherto been
looked upon as minor details in the management
of cattle, but they have become now of primary
importance, and henceforth every little eircum-
stenos mast be regarded with Jealous Bare.
The veterinary congress which has lately
been held at Vienna shows that Continental
governments are by no means disposed to under-
rate the importance of the present calamity.
Animals in many countries will be subject to
something like the sttrvelllentm practised en
human beings. Perhaps the eetttraliied organise.
tion with whisk the people of many European
emintrieli are so well acquainted will be found
practicable as well as useful, and the system of
espionage applied to cattle be decidedly advan-
tageous. An obstacle of which happily we know
nothing in England appears on the Continent to
have been found in the superstition of the people.
Inseam localities the plague is regarded as a direct
visitation from Heaven which it is in the power
of priests to remove, the priests themselves,
travelling as they do from farm to farm,
being the unoonscious bearers of the disease in
their clothes. It seems to be now pretty clearly
ascertained that the infection may be transfered
in this manner, and that it is highly dangerous
for any individual to approach a diseased animal.
Cattle must be localised as much as possible. If
importation cannot be arrested, it must take
place under very severe restrictions. As to
public markets, they must in some measure be
done away with for the present, and farmers if
they cannot guarantee their clothes to be non-
infected—will have to make their deals at home.