The Express.
London, England, 1866-01-10 00:00:00

THE CATTLE PLAGUE.

The Return published by the Veterinary De-
partment of the Privy Council, for the week ending
December 30th, gives an account of the loss of
stock by the disease, from its commencement in
June to the end of the year 1865, as reported by
the local Inspectors ; and although there may be a
certain number of " back cases" which will not
appear until the next return is issued, yet for all
practical purposes we can deal with the figures as
they stand.
In England 48,964 animals were attacked during
the whole period, and of them 11,142 were killed
as a preventive measure, 27,177 absolutely died of
the disease, 3,655 recovered from the attack, and
6,990 diseased animals were remaining on Decem-
ber 30th, whose fate will be recorded in subsequent
returns.

In Wales the disease was confined to the two
counties of Denbigh and Flint, and the total num-
bers attacked were 2,287 ; of these 93 were killed,
1,565 died. 218 recovered, and 411 remained under
observation.

In Scotland 22,298 animals were attacked ; 2,696
of these were killed, 12,749 died, 3,172 recovered,
and 3,581 cases were undetermined.
Is Great Britain, therefore, the aggregate num-
bers stand thus:—Attacked, 73,549—ki11ed, 13,931;
died, 41,491; recovered, 7,045 ; and 11,082 (or
15 per cent. of the attacks) are brought forward
into the account for 1866.

Ireland is happily at present, or was at date of
last report, free from the visitation.
We have given the exact official figures for the
three divisions of Great Britain separately, because,
as we shall presently show, there is great diversity
in the proportions under the three categories of
" killed,' "died," and "recovered" in different
parts of the country.

To get at the exact measure of this diversity, the
numbers must first be reduced to a uniform basis,
and to this end it is necessary to eliminate as a
disturbing element all the cases "remaining," the
proportions of which vary in almost every county,
from 6 per cent, of the attacks in Berkshire, to 16
per cent. in Lincolnshire, and to 27 per cent. in
Cheshire. On this point we venture to suggest
that the per centages given in the weekly return of
the Veterinary Department should iu future be
modified so as to show the ratio to terminated
cases, and not as now to the gross number at-
tacked : the per ceutage " remaining " should of
course be given, but as the result of a distinct cal-
culation. We can quite imagine that, under the
pressure consequent upon the compilation of a re-
turn, the facts of which have to be gathered every
week from the Inspectors all over the country, this
point may have escaped attention, but of its im-
portance we have, almost daily, abundant proof.
For instance, DO less an authority than the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, experienced as he is in
figures, has stated in a letter which appeared iu
the Times of Monday last, that in the county of
Chester the deaths in the week ending Dec. 16th
were 371 per cent. of the cases ; but he omits all
mention of the "remaining," which were for that
week 57 per cent. of the cases. Mr. Gladstone's
calculation shows nothing whatever ; at least, it is
utterly delusive as an indication of the real death-
rate, which was actually 88 per cent. (including
those killed, 92 per cent.) of the Gases which ter-
minated in that week, barely 8 per cent. re-
covering.
The subjoined table, deduced directly from the

official return, gives a comparative view of the
relative rates of recovery and of death in the
counties of England and in the whole of Wales and
Scotland, precedence being given to each county in
the order of its recovery rate :

Total number of
cues Mace the of 100 eases
COMOISOMMOUt of disease
of the 4haemie to fn col. 1
COVITIZe, &c. Dec. 30, lettS, the numbers
which have ter.
Wasted in death ~.---"--.
or recovery. Killed. Died. Reoord.

Worcester
Becks
will,
Durham
Lanc►hire
Warwickshire
Yorkshire
Nottingham
Bedford
Essex
Oxford
Buckingham
Devon
Hereford
Hertford
Stafford
Cornwall
Cumberland .....
Hampshire
Surrey (extra liletrop )
Cheshire
Northumberland
Suffolk
Derby
Lincoln
Northampton
Sussex.
Keot (extra Illetrop )
Cambridge
Huntingdon
Norfolk
Motrop. Polio. Dist
Shropshire
Gloucester
Dorset
Leicester
ltutlaud
Somerset

228
821
360
8,640

.168
1,651
1,078
1,117
1.363
2,403
1.105
2,8)12
6,650
269