The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-13 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, NOV. 13, 1865.

The public will turn with interest to the First
Report of the Commissioners upon the Cattle
Plague. The subject is one of such importance that
it is sure to be dwelt upon by all those who have
any concern in it. It was a very desirable thing
that this Commission should have been issued, for
there was nothing but doubt and uncertainty in the
minds of many as to what was the best cause to
pursue, and the general ignorance that prevailed on
the matter was most lamentable. Advice and re-
commendations from head-quarters are sure to be
received with more respect and attention than the
same intimations would receive if they were im-
parted by those in a superior position, and whose
authority did not carry the same weight with them.
At the same time too much reliance must not be
placed upon the effect of this Report, and it will be
wiser to trust to time, and the gradual infusion of
knowledge, than to expect that all in a moment, as
it were, we are to arrive at the understanding of the
nature and cure of this fatal disease now so preva-
lent among our cattle. It is curious to follow the
course or the disease as it is here traced, and in this
manner we may realise more fully the enormity and
extent to which it has reached than if we try to re-
call to recollection the scattered fragments of intelli-
gence which have reached us from day to day.

Towards the end of the month of June the disease
was first noticed in England, when two cows were
attacked in a shed belonging to a cowkeeper at
Islington ; they had been purchased in the Metro-
'politan Cattle Market. Two milch cows that
were purchased on the 19th were also attacked by
the same malady. After this the disease spread
most rapidly and alarmingly, and committed great
havoc in its destructive course. The Islington cow-
keeper lost as many as 106, and an inspector of the
north and north-east of London states that four-
fifths in his own district have either died or else
been slaughtered, so that no one is likely to over-
estimate the losses or exaggerate the consequences
of such a calamity. By the 14th of October the
disease spread to 29 counties in England and two
in Wales, and 16 in Scotland. Naturally enough
the Commissioners arrive at the conclusion that the
disease is a contagious one, and also of a most
swift and dangerous contagion. .Also, they declare
that the disease may be classed as that of the
" rinderpest," or Steppe murrain, and they are
led to this opinion by the symptoms and the expe-
rience arrived at by post mortem examinations.
Before this period it appears that this fell disorder
had been known in England, as even so far back
as 1348-9, thousands of cattle perished by a plague
soon after the Black Death produced a great mor-

tality among men.
The six recommendations of the Commissioners
are worthy of attention by all, and no doubt if they
are strictly attended to we shall shortly witness a
considerable diminution of the horrors now prevail-
ing. In the first place, they advise that the Govern-
ment should possess the power to suspend for any
time they deem necessary the movement of cattle
from one place in Great Britain to another, but in
case this recommendation Should not be accepted,
other precautions are suggested, such as certificates
being furnished as to the healthiness of the district
from which the cattle came, and that all animals
sold for butchers' meat should be slaughtered within
a short time. The second recommendation is a
very wise one, and one the truth of which
has already been recognised by many
good judges throughout the country. The Commis-
sioners are averse to the wholesale extermination
going on in various quarters, and truly declare that
it is time to withdraw the power now vested in
inspectors, or at least to limit it to those instances

in which the prior directions of the inspectors have
not been attended to. When a disease of this cha-
racter has appeared in an isolated form only, it is
advisable to have recourse to such an expedient ;
but it is truly stated here that, in " proportion as the
disease extends, the hope of thus arresting its march
diminishes, the inevitable waste increases, and the
sense of hardship tends to become insupportable."
What can be put more plainly and forcibly than
this ? and how aptly it describes the state of affairs
in many quarters. Many have been reduced to
absolute ruin by the arbitrary mode of " wholesale
slaughter," the desirability of which has not yet
by any means been proved. It would be bad
enough if any equivalent were granted to the owners
of the property destroyed, because in any case
serious consequences must ensue if the destruction
of animals goes on as it is now doing ; but as it is
the arrangements are deplorably bad. The Com-
missioners add to their remark, that, " in principle,
a system of compulsory slaughter should be
complemented by a system of compensation,
and the objections to promising compensa-
tion to individuals out of the public Treasury
on an extensive scale appear to us insurmountable."
It is earnestly to be hoped that this recommendation
will be attended to if none of the others receive any
considerable portion of attention, and it is very
certain that if it does not meet with due notice the
results will prove very disastrous to the community

in general.
With respect to foreign cattle, the Commissioners
consider that they should be slaughtered on landing,
provided the Government carry out their first re-
commendation as to the cessation of traffic in Great
'Britain of all cattle ; but if not, then for foreign
cattle to be subjected to an examination, after being
passed by the Customs' inspectors, and sent to
market. 'lhe fifth is also a very good recommenda-
tion, which advises that care should be taken to
ascertain, by periodical returns, the number of
horned cattle and sheep, " within the area of every
parish of Great Britain, and of their sanitary con-
dition" with especial reference to the present disease.
This will be a very wise arrangement, and cannot
fail to furnish most useful knowledge concerning
this all-important subject. Had such a step been
taken at an earlier period no doubt much good
might have accrued, for in many instances ignorance
and neglect have greatly promoted the spread of the
evil in places which, under happier circumstances of
" sanitary arrangements," might have been toleraby
free from the infliction. People are often very apt
to think that a disease must run its course, and that
nothing will stay it ; also that all animals will most
likely catch it, and so tiresome restrictions and
vexatious precautions are unavailing; but the results
of scientific inquiries and the experience of compe-
tent judges testify to the folly of such shortsighted
reasoning. All that our efforts can do, it is our
bounden duty to try for the purpose of checking
the cause of this fatal .disease ; and therefore
it is both irritating and depressing to peruse
the accounts that have been furnished respezt-
ing the great carelessness that often prevails
such as allowing the animals known to be infected
to remain for days in the immediate vicinity of those
in a healthy state. As for Ireland the commis-
sioners think that, by suitable precautions, the cala-
mity may be prevented from reaching that country,
but they urge the speedy adoption of all desirable
measures, for the disease spreads with such startling
rapidity that otherwise the necessary end will not
be gained. A separate report is appended, which
contains the signature of those members of the Com-
mission who cannot agree with the others in some
particulars. They disbelieve the proposal of stop-
ping all traffic of cattle in Great Britain, because
they say such a plan could never be " practicable."
The price of meat would rise, and many evasions be
made, which would militate against the success of
the scheme. Of course all such wholesale proposals
are very difficult to judge of, and there is no won-
der that dissentients should be found. It does not
seem, however, that the Commissioners differed as
to the expediency of some of the chief recommenda-
tions, such as the second, for instance, concerning
the desirability of wholesale slaughter. So far, it
must be admitted, that the Commissioners have been
at great pains to discover the causes, and suggest
the prevention of the disease, and that they have
fulfilled all reasonable expectations as to what their
labours and researches might effect. It now re-
mains for the powers that be to carry out their
recommendations so far as practicable, and those
are immediately concerned in the care and traffic of
cattle should by all means follow the instructions
so plainly given. Practical truths are of immense
value to the public in general, who get confused by
so many theories.

The evils of monopoly need hardly, one would
think, be discussed at the present day, but although
the whole tenour of our legislation is directed against
it, and although public opinion is strongly opposed
to it, it still appears to live and flourish amongst us.
There is unfortunately a strongly marked tendency
in human nature generally to abuse irresponsible
power, and the consequence is, that where there is
not the wholesome check of free competition, the
public is seldom well or efficiently served. If this
be the case with mere articles of luxury or con-
venience, it is certainly doubly true of those com-
modities which, in our busy and exacting age, have
become almost necessaries. There has very often
been good ground of complaint against the man-
agement of the gas and water companies of this
great metropolis. Water may certainly be ranked
amongst the first requisites of existence anywhere,
but the complex civilisation of a great city requires
a costly and elafiorate artificial sy stem of supply.
Gas may be said to be absolutely necessary for the
conduct of business, as well as for the convenience
of families, the protection of our streets, and the
lighting of our public buildings. Of course, other
artificial light, could be procured, but, under present
arrangements, it would only be with great cost and
inconvenience, so that the gas and water companies
hold in their hands the control of our busi-
ness, health, and pleasure. Yet marvellous
as it may seem, considering how much de-
pends upon them, and considering, too, the
the great objection which Englishmen have to a
centralisation of power and authority, these com-
panies are virtual monopolies. If a man dislikes
the quality of his gas, or finds reason to complain
of exorbitant charges, he has no power to influence,
much less to control, the gas companies. London
is divided into districts, each company supplying
one, and by a mutual arrangement no company will
supply another's departmer2t. So that the alter-
native offered to malcontents is the abandonment
of gas altogether ; a resource that the private
householder is not very likely to resort to, and
which the man of business will certainly not adopt.
So well, indeed, do the gas companies know their own
power in this respect, that so far from deprecating
the withdrawal of the supply, they hold it in ter-
rorem over the heads of refractory customers. An
instance of this system of virtuous indignation was
given the other day, when a gentleman, who ob-
jected to an unaccountable increase in his gas
account, was told the supply woul I be stopped
forthwith. Of course, if every one agreed to stop
burning gas the companies would be the sufferers,
but they know very well that there is no fear of the