The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-12 00:00:00

4 14)
ot

LONDON, SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 1865.

---..-

The cattle plague continues to engross so much
attention, and threatens to produce such serious
consequences if unchecked, that anything like sound
information on the subject is received with interest.
Profesfor SYMONDS, who is considered an authority
onthe matter, has just given his opinion of it very
fully at a meeting of Norfolk farmers, held at Nor-
wich on Wednesday last; and it is worth while for
those specially concerned in arresting the course of
the plague to consider what he says on the matter.
In the first place, Professor SYMONDS does not
accept the spontaneous or atmospheric theory. He
declares that every case which has occurred in this
country is distinctly traceable to having come in
contact with some infected animal or locality, andl
that it has really no more to do with England
than the Asiatic cholera or the yellow fever,
which may occur or may be imported here,
but cannot come under the category of national
diseases. It is not the first time that the
disease has broken out in this country. In
1745 it made its appearance, and continued until
1757, showing itself from time to time, although, as
Professor SYMONDS remarks, the traffic in cattle was
then very small. Great precautions were taken to
check the progress of the disorder, but without suc-
cess, and there seems to be no doubt that it was
substantially the same complaint that has now ap-
peared among us, since a careful description has
been left on record by the physicians of the time.
Veterinary science was then scarcely in existence,
but medical science was well advanced, and conse-
quently there are professional data left for the
guidance of modern practitioners. It is not clear'
how the disease was introduced in 1745, though
suggestions and rumours were not wanting. It was
said that it was brought over by two calves pur-
chased in Holland ; and, again, that a large quan-
tity of hides belonging to diseased animals had
been secretly imported from Zealand. Whatever
the origin, there is no doubt that it raged with great
virulence for some period. " It belongs," says
Professor SYMONDS, "specially to Russia, Austria,
and the Danubian provinces, Bessarabia and the
whole of the countries lying westward, the countries
on the west side of the line being strangers to it ex-
cept upon its introduction. Sometimes it goes into
Prussia, Bohemia, or Bavaria, but never unless car-
ried there by some animals in whose systems the
disease was lurking, though undeveloped." Such,
at least, is Professor SYMONDS'S theory, though some
members of his profession, he admits, think other-
wise. At any rate he urges, -whatever be the opinion
as to its origin, there is no doubt whatever that the
disease is infectious, and that, consequently, rigid
precautions should be taken to restrict it. For more
than 100 years it has been absent from amongst us,
and the whole continent of Europe has been free
from it for many years. In Norfolk, in Suffolk, in
Shropshire its outbreak has been traced directly to
the Metropolitan Cattle Market, and the presence
of one infected animal has been sufficient to cause a
terrible amount of havoc in a farm or a dairy. One
Sussex farmer lost 15 cows and 15 calves by intro-
ducing into hils dairy
a If bought at Chichester

market. Professor SYMONDS, therefore, recommends
that the greatest prudence and caution should be
exercised in buying cattle at the present time.
He advises that farmers should for a time buy no
store stock at markets or fairs, but only from each
other, and he advises that no foreign cattle should
be bought for a period. He does not, of course, re-
commend that all public marketing should be done
away with, but that only those animals should be
bought or imported which are fit for food and are to
be slaughtered at once, not those which when bought
must be turned on a farm to graze or put in a dairy
among other cattle. Professor SYMONDS added that
these two propositions-Ist, that farmers should
abstain from buying cattle for a certain length of
time ; and 2d, that they should abstain from buying
foreign store cattle—were really the two first which
stood on the list of recommendations which he sub-
mitted to the Government. Professor SYMONDS
further adds that when he heard that a lot of
Russian cattle were coming over here he knew that
a risk was being run, since Russia was the home of
the disease. Whether those particular cattle had
anything to do with this outbreak is uncertain, but
at any rate the extension of this branch trade to
Russia has occurred at a singularly unfortunate
time. These animals are bought at so low a price
in Russia that a large margin for expenses and
profit is left. The poor creatures are roughly used
on their passage, and indeed the wanton cruelty
with which all cattle are treated when travelling
repays itself with interest on the human race. It
is not veryoften that a poor animal is actually ren-
dered dangerous by ill-treatment, thirst, or neglect;
but it is very often that its health is injured, it is
predisposed to disease, and its flesh becomes injuri-
ous to the consumer instead of nourishing. Surely
our local bye-laws and market laws might do some-
thing to improve matters, and especially a sharp
watch should be kept on the manner in which cattle
are conveyed by rail or shipping. To leave them
exposed to cold or wet nights is a sure way to
induce disease, even if there be no epidemic , and
the rough treatment and neglect of the drovers
often inflict serious damage on their masters' pro-
perty. It is to be hoped that this alarm about
the cattle plague will induce a closer supervision in
such matters ; and in the meantime it would be well
for all farmers, cowkeepers, and dealers to try and
localise the disease as much as possible. In Hun-
gary the laws are so rigid that no man, woman, or
child is allowed to pass in or out of an infected farm
until three weeks have elapsed since the death of
the last animal. Roads are altered and most extra-
ordinary precautions taken to prevent the spread of
this infectious disorder. A little time will show us
from what quarter there is most danger of con-
tagion, and in the meantime much can be done
among ourselves to restrain its course.

The Conservatives seem determined to show that
they have still some life and energy remaining,
' notwithstanding the sinister rumours that have been
afloat regarding their prospects. Indeed, they have
had all the " festal stages" to themselves, and at
Leeds and elsewhere have signalised their triumph.
At Birmingham, on Thursday evening, an enter-
tainment was given to the members for North War-
wickshire, who had to pass through the ordeal of a
fiercely contested election so recently. Mr. NEW-
DEGATE and Mr. BROMLEY both succeeded in main-
taining their ground, to the natural exultation of
their party. Mr. NEWDEGATE is very peculiar in
his opinions, and extreme in some of his views,
as every one knows, but he is also con-
sistent and straightforward, and these fea-
tures in his character ensure him the respect of
his opponents and claim the regard of those friends
who differ from him in some things. In the speech
of the hon. member there was much that related to
local matters and the particulars of the late election ;
but here and there he put forward some of his own
ideas, and manifested his individual characteristics,
as, for instance, when he said that, however unpo-
pular he might be in the Town-hall of Birmingham,
he had still an independent mind to appeal to.
" Well," said he, " you will always find indepen-
dent thought is at first called a ' crotchet,' it takes
some wit to invent a nickname, but every fool can
repeat and misapply it." There is more truth in
in this than many will be willing to admit, and
certainly those who exhibit a steadfastness and
sincerity of purpose have a right to be regarded
with respect and attention, for they perform their
part, in society to the best of their abilities. Mr.
BROMLEY also addressed the assembly, and spoke in
a good-humoured manner of the awkward occur-
rence of the election. He occasioned great amuse-
ment by mentioning the tactics pursued, and
the alarm they had experienced when it was
threatened to bring the Chancellor of the Exchequer
down there to frighten them from their propriety.
Doubtless Mr. GLADSTONE'S perilous position was
the cause of much disquietude to his political oppo-
nents at those places where the elections were not.,
decided. Mr. BROMLEY declared his conviction
that no English House of Commons would permit
" any American quack idea to be mixed up with the
English Constitution ;" and, following this notion,
he said " that very probably the next generation, if
not the present, would see the Americans take re-
fuge in the lesser tyranny of despotism from the
greater one of democracy." This prophecy may
prove more correct than Mr. BRIGHT and some of
his friends may suppose. Mr. BROMLEY concluded
his interesting speech by declaring that he believed,
after long experience as a traveller, that our own
country really enjoyed the greatest amount Of free-
dom, which is a fact that some choose to forget so
often that it is well that some public speakers should
remind them of it occasionally.

It seems as if the public were destined to be con-
tinually on the qui vive in respect to fearful crimes
and tragic occurrences. Hardly does one horror
pass away before another appears to engage our
notice. During the last few weeks there have been
the trial and execution of Dr. PRITCHARD, the ex-
traordinary affair of CONSTANCE KENT, the fearful
revelations concerning CHARLOTTE WINSOR, and
now a new character in crime steps on the scene,
and monopolises the attention of the community.
One crime leads to another has often been said ;
but in some of these instances a considerable period
1 has elapsed between the commission of the crime
and its more serious consequences. One satisfac-
tion respecting the recent murderer is, that he is
without doubt in an unsound state of mind, and
thus the affair is so far divested of its worst fea-
tures. It is also a relief to believe that it was the
same individual who was the perpetrator of the
dark deeds in London and Ramsgate. So strange
and startling a chapter of horrors has seldom been
publicwtohoslteudisy,
taondactletoeunmtosfot
rpethr-e
p lex ing presented
thing
th
of
the
'
motives that actuated the murderer. The unfortunate
woman who perished at his hands in Ramsgate
appears to have been his wife, and
agthsehreedis d
notnot
know his whereabouts for some years
the shadow of a reason to account for his fatal act.
The deaths of the children in London are equally
unaccountable, and the most likely solution is, that
the unhappy man had worked himself into a highly
excitable state, and taken the morbid idea that he
must get rid of those mostintimately connected with
him. Ile appears to have gone about his work in