The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-18 00:00:00

THE CATTLE PLAGUE IN IRELAND.

PROFESSOR FERGUSON'S REPORT.
To THE UNDER SECBET.ULY, DUBLIN CAMEL
May 17, 1866.

SlR,—The annexed copy of a communication re-
ceived this day is strongly suggestive of the most probable
manner in which cattle plague infection has been introduced
into Ireland, although there is no evidence of the farms in
County Down, where cattle plague recently made its ap-
pearance, having been visited either by drovers or cattle
dealers.
I am preparing a full report relative to the occurenees
at Drennan, which shall be furnished to you when coin.
pleteted. In the meantime I beg to correct an erroneous
conclusion arrived at by many stockowners, who consider
their interests depreciated by credence being given to the
statement made by me that the cattle plague had made
its appearance in Ireland. It is argued by them that the
cases of death which occurred in the locality during the
month of April not having presented the recognised
symptoms of cattle plague, it is improbable that the
animals I pronounced to be affected with that disease were
really suffering from it, when I had them slaughtered and
buried.
Some state the affection to be an aggravated form of
lung distemper, which is not probably the case, as that dis-
ease, when uncomplicated, very seldom kills in so short a
time as 24 hours, and, when it does prove fatal, the lungs
are invariably found in a state easily recognised even by an
ordinary butcher as significant of the disease. A cow that
died, one of the earliest cases, was opened by a butcher,
who states that its lungs were quite sound.
That case and some others I am disposed to believe were
not cattle plague, but cases of a terribly fatal disease of
the circulation which has of late been very prevalent in
' "-

Ireland It is common on the European continent. In
France it is known as maladie de tang, but ix there more

„
frequent among sheep than horned cattle. It, however,
not unfrequently attacks cows after calving, but is quite
different from puerperal fever, which is a very common
disease among horned cattle in Ireland, and generally
renders the animal, in bad cases, quickly paralytic in the
hind extremities. Of the former class of disease may
have been souse of the cases that died at Drennan before
there was any report mad., to the government, but the two
cases particularly pointed out to mo by Mr. Jenks, and
which had been, with others, reported by Mr. Morrow,
were most unmistakably cattle plague, and, as such, by
my orders, treated accordingly.
The law admits of post-mortem examination to decide
doubtful or suspicious cues ; but, as I had no doubt what-
ever relative to the nature of the malady, I would periait
no increase of danger of the disease spreading, as a result
of snaking post-mortem examination—particularly as a
great number of persons,evidently of the farming class, bad
assembled on the spot to watch the proceedings, and might
become infection-carriers to other holdings, and even re-
mote localities, particularly as some important neighbour-
ing fairs and markets were on the eve of being head—the
market of Lisburn on the next day.
Should any society or committee feel desirous of making
investigations relative b, future cattle plague reports on
their own account, every facility shall be afforded to them
for lasing so. lone ‘,4 it dues not interfere with the duties
entrusted to moo by the government —T have the h.mone to
be, sir, your most obedient servant,
(Signed) HUGH FERGUSON, H.M.V.S.

On the second reading of the Compulsory Church
Rate Abolition Rill, Lord J. Manners will move that it
be read a second time upon that day six months.

In committee on the Representation of the
People Bill, Mr. Yorke will move that the a borough
franchise shall not apply to borough constituencies where
the population does not reach 20,000.

. .
Next Friday Mr. James will ask the Secretary
for the Home Department whether it is the intention of
the government to introduce, during the present session,
any bill for altering the law relating to the licensing of
public-houses and beer-houses, and placing them upon an
equal footing.

Mr. Blake, on the Bth of next month, will call
attention to the defeats in the law relative to charitable
donations and bequests in Ireland, and move, " That it is
the opinion of this house that government ought to take
immediate steps to amend the same."

The s...leet committee on the metropolitan gas
bills report that they have found the illuminating power
greater and the quality of the gas better in Manchester,
Birmingham, Dlinburrh, Plymouth, Brighton, and other
large towns, than in the metropolis, and the price cheaper
to the consumer* : that the purification of the metro-
politan gas is imperfect, leaving an exoess of sulphur,
which is most injurious to health, pictures, metals, &c. :
that every company now realises a dividend of 10 per
cent., and that many have in addition paid large sums for
back dividends and laid up reserve funds. The report
suggests many improvements as to tests, district arrange-
ments, and other matters, and recommends that the legal
minimum illuminating power should be increased and the
maximum price reduced.
The amount standing to the credit of the Post-
office Savings Banks Fund in the books of the commis-
sioners for the reduction of the National Debt on the 31st
December, was 6,582,329/. lls. 7d.