The Express.
London, England, 1866-05-22 00:00:00

TURTLE, TURTLE, TURTLE.
Clear and Invalid TIIETLZ BOITPS ohms rood,p.
sr. alas*. asoarr-grusr, lOC. Y.
WM. DONALD, Proprietor.

LONDON must have a SUPPER and MUSIC
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Vie OrpresM

TO OORRESPONDINTA
Advertisements Intended for "The it week' London IvesMg
Taper, must be at the Moe, 10, Illouverle-street, b 7 Two
o'clock on the day of FOCI:Mb=

turcuurar.
qgm Byrinic THE BALANCE OF COMFORT. Means.
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PRI/4=M
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HIGH-WATER AT LONDON.BRIDGIR
Tan DAY —Morning, 811. 1m Afternoon, 812. 3em.
To-mossow—Moruiug, 9n. 14m Afternoon, 9h. 48m.

LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 22.

A CIRCONSTLNCE of no groat significance in
itself, but one out of which important results
may ultimately arise, will probably have attracted
the attention of those of our readers who turn
with periodical regularity to that part of our
journal where we publisha the weekly statistics
of the cattle plague. The return appears now
for the first time under entirely new auspices,

in consequence of the complete reorganization—
we ought, perhaps, hardly to speak of it as having
been organized at all hitherto—of the Department
which from the commencement of the disease has
been charged with the duty of collating the
information furnished by the local inspectors.
This duty, as is well known, devolved on the
Veterinary Department of the Privy Council, but
it is no secret that, owing iu great measure
to the want of of training in the
heads of that department, matters had got into
such a state as to call for prompt and decisive
action on the part of the Treasury. There was
plenty of zeal, but, unfortunately, there was no
one to direct that zeal into proper channels of effi-

cient employment. It was, therefore, notified
that a new department was about to be
formed, under the direction of Colonel HAIL-
C.E., in supersession of the Veterinary
Department, and it was understood that
instead of the temporary provision which was
made at the first, something like a permanent
office would be established for all business arising
out of the cattle plague. The necessary arrange-
ments have, we believe, now been finally made,
and henceforth the public will receive all its in-
formation through the Statistical Branch of the new
Cattle Plague Department, in subordinate con-
nexion with the Privy Council. The superintend-
ence of the statistical details and of the general
working of the machinery in all its ramifications
throughout Great Britain has for the present been
confided to Mr. WILLIAM CLODE, a gentleman
possessing large official experience, acquired in
more than 25 years of public service.
The creation of a permanent office fur Cattle
Plague business would seem to indicate on the
part of the GovJrnment either a distrust of their
power to put down the disease, or an intention of
employing the officers of the department in other
inquiries when the rinderpest has disappeared. Of
the two soppositions we prefer to hope that we
have at last fairly got the promise of a
system for which our statists and most
enlightened agriculturists have so long contended.
We have now a special department for the col-
lection
of statistics relating to one form of cattle
disease : from this vantage ground what can be
easier than to go a step farther and to take note
of all the diseases of cattle, ordinary as well as
extraordinary ? This is really a very important
subject, and its consideration ought not to be
put off simply because Ministers cannot make up
their minds as to the proper course to pursue
with reference to a comprehensive scheme of
agricultural statistics. We say it is a great draw-
back that we have no check whatever upon the
returns which the local inspectors send in of the
number of cattle put to death on account of the
specific disease which alone entitles the owner to
claim compensation fur his loss. Does any sane
person believe thatif we could by sonic sudden illu-
mination ascertain how many or how few deaths
of cattle have been attributed to ordinary causes
since rindcrpest first came among us, we should not
see at once that in numbers of instances pleuro-
pneumonia and other kindred maladies had ben
defrauded of their just share of destructive power?
It is well known that in the early stages of the
disease its diagnosis is far from being a matter of
certainty to any but the better class of veterinary
surgeons ; and it is, therefore, evident that re-
turns based on the scanty amount of scientific
knowledge possessed by the main body of local
observers and reporters must be taken with many
grains of allowance. Upon this point we desire more
information than is vouchsafed by Mr. WILLIAMS
in his recently published report. The public ought
to know what sort of guarantee they possess of
the fitness of the local inspectors for the exercise
of such plenary powers as they are now invested
with.

The case of a Metropolitan Inspector, who
figured at the Marylebone Police Court the
other day, on a charge of gross fraud committed
in his official capacity, and who, apparently
not being held in sufficient repute to obtain bail,
was sent to the House of Detention in default,
suggests the fear that his may be but
one among many similar instances of dis-
honest practice. Will the Privy Council
authorities tell us how many cases have come
to their knowledge in which the inspector, being
himself a farrier or veterinary surgeon, has in-
sisted upon stopping all methods of treatment,
except such as should be carried out under his
own care, thus securing a monopoly of business
to the detriment of all independent practitioners ?
We have heard of such malpractices, and whether
they are few or many enough has appeared,
from time to time, in the various metropolitan and
provincial journals, to show the necessity for a
change of system.
Let the veterinary surgeon attend to his pro-
per duty of fighting the disease, and afterwards
communicate the result of his operations to the
officer appointed to report thereon to the central
authorities. In Ireland the Government have
long relied exclusively upon the police for procur-
ing all the mei...wry agricultural statistics, and to
the police is also committed the duty of local
inspection for cattle-plague purposes. Is there
any good reason why the same plan should not be
adopted in Creat Britain P The police are every-
where under strict coutrol and supervision, and