The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-11 00:00:00

General to discuss the affairs of the province. Sir
JOHN LAWRENCE is thus resolved to enter upon
every subject thoroughly, and is already giving
every encouragement to sanitary and progressive
measures. His indifference to mere State etiquette
has surprised and mortified ROM of the Calcutta
grandees, but that very characteristic will be an
advantage, as tending to check the extravagance so
common in Anglo-Indian life. The inauguration of
such a ruler promises well for the affairs of the
great country for whose well-being we are nation-
ally responsible.

A question of great social importance was dis-
cussed the other even;ng, and one that affects the
health of the community to a great extent. The
Cattle Diseases Prevention Bill came under consi-
deration, and Mr. BRUCE very forcibly explained
the great evils that arose from the prevalent prac-
tice of supplying bad meat. The question is a very
difficult one to deal with, and hitherto the evils of
the case have not been at all successfully encoun-
tered, although there have been no less than four

acts relating to the subject. Those who are igno-
rant of the details, or indifferent to the notices of

such subjects, will be surprised to learn that Ed
much as £6,120,000 is the annual value lost by
disease of cattle in the United Kingdom. The
most fatal, by far, of the diseases among cattle is
that called pleura-pneumonia, as it carries off
nearly one-half. This is supposed, with good
reason, to be contagious, and is often transmitted
by the cattle imported from other countries.

During the course of embarkation the poor ani-
mals have to undergo a great deal of fatigue, and
suffer from thirst, and various other causes tend
to increase the risks and develop the malady.

Mr. BrucE very properly laid great stress on
the fact that a great quantity of diseased meat

was annually sold in various stages of disease

This is a matter of considerable moment to mazy,
and it seems very strange that so little attention
has been paid to the subject for so long a period.
It would be difficult to estimate the iniquity of
such a nefarious proceeding as that of distri-
buting had meat among the markets, and cer-
tainly it is almost impossible to exaggerate the con-
sequences. The hindrances that seem to impede
the progress of those who would ameliorate this
condition of things ought not to be alloyed to
he insuperable, and one plan after another should
be tried until something feasible is hit upon that,
with the continuance of care and caution, may
render the evil of brief occurrence. The details
which Mr. BRUCE furnished to the House are
enough to excite the disgust and indignation of
all who heard them, and all who peruse the report
of the speech which contains them. During the
process of killing it is the practice in some
slaughter-houses to " dress extremely dis-
eased carcasses, and polish the meat."
The lean and diseased animals are rubbed over
with the fat of the healthy ones, so combined as to
give them a good appearance. A salesmaster in
Ireland has gone so far as to intimate that the
sellinglof diseased cattle is necessary, and that un-
less the farmer resorted to this expedient he could
not pay his rent. This is, certainly, bringing things
to a pretty pass, but still the remark proves that
the practice is most prevalent. It is high time
that something very effectual be done to stop this
pernicious custom. Mr. BRUCE made several pro-
posals, which seem to promise well, and certainly
deserve a trial. One important change was to alter
the regulations which restricted the importation of
diseased cattle from Ireland and Scotland as well
as from foreign countries. At present this was not
practicable, because the expression, " parts beyond
the seas," was not held spplieable to portions of the
United Kingdom. This shows the extreme neces-
sity that exists for the exercise of caution in de
vising those schemes, because sometimes after very
elaborate plans have been adopted the end is not
gained, and the primary purpose still remains
unfulfilled. Mr. BRUCE also proposed an admirable
suggestion, that the railway authorities should be
compelled to cleanse the trucks in which cattle were
carried, and also to water the animals once in 12
hours. The cruelty of leaving these poor creatures
to suffer from thirst is very great, and also it must
exercise the most pernicious effects oa their health.
Also, it is suggested] that inspectors be appointed,
with powers to seize any sheep or lambs exposed
for sale at fairs and other places. At any rate, Mr.
BRUCE has proposed quite enough measures to deal
with the evil for the present, and to mitigate, if
not greatly to stop it. The Bill has been read a
second time, and referred to a select committee. It
is a great satisfaction to notice that so important a
measure has been taken up in the right spirit; and
though some hon. members amused themselves by
sneering at the details, they may be allowed to
laugh, for it will not interfere with the beneficial
results of the plans which have been skilfully
devised for the preservation of human health, and
he best interests of the community.

The British Museum on Sundays,