The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-14 00:00:00

SURREY.

The rural districts of Surrey have hitherto escaped
the cattle plague with comparative impunity ; but
the disease has made its appearance in two or three
localities in the neighbourhood of Dorking and
Guildford.

On Friday afternoon a large meeting was held at
the Three Tuns Inn, Dorking, to consider what steps
it would be desirable to take in the event of the
disease becoming general among the stock in this
district. Mr. T. J. Heathcote occupied the chair,
supported by Lieutenant-Colonel Atchison, Mr.
Lee Steere, Mr. E. Derrick, and a large body of
agriculturists.

The CHAIRMAN said the main object of their
meeting was to obtain information and to decide
upon a future course of action ; as he believed there
were some gentlemen present who had sustained
severe losses among their herds he should be happy
to hear from them the result of their experience.
Mr. MINTER, of Fetcham, said that he had lost
88 animals within the last 10 days, and he regretted
to say that several others were at that moment down
with the disease. His own opinion was that the
complaint was imported from abroad, and that it
was owing in a great degree to the wretched con-
dition in which the beasts were shipped, and the
overcrowded and unhealthy state of the vessels which
brought them over. He traced the disease in
his own stock to his having a farm on the Essex
shore contiguous to a spot where Dutch cattle
were landed for the London market. Mr. Keble, of
Leatherhead, a skilful veterinary surgeon, had
attended his cattle, and used every effort to check
the disease, but with very little success. He (Mr.
Minter) believed that there was no cure for it, and
that the wisest and safest plan was to sacrifice the
infected animals the moment the disease appeared.
Mr. Keble's treatment had consisted generally of
stimulants and tonics, with the administration of
hay, tea, and beer ; but not above two or three on
an average had been cured in his stock out of ten.
Mr. LEE STEERE regretted that Parliament was
not sitting, believing that, if it were, an act would
be immediately passed dealing effectively with the
subject. He did not think, however, that Govern-
ment should interpose to prevent the importation of
foreign cattle, because the consequence of such a
step would be to enhance the price of meat enor-
mously. He concurred with the last speaker that
the disease was very little understood, and ha dwelt
at some length upon the importance of compelling
railway companies to provide clean and wholesome
trucks for the conveyance of cattle to and from the
metropolis. At present these trucks were, as a rule,
in a filthy condition, and no steps were taken to
keep them clean.
Mr. H. Wise followed with a similar line of argu-
ment, and suggested as one precaution that the
farmers should not allow their cattle to graze indis-
criminately in lanes, as many of them were in the
habit of doing. He also recommended those who
sent stock to the London markets on no account to
take any of the animals back again.
A resolution was then passed, appointing a com-
mittee of 14 gentlemen to watch the disease, and to
take such steps as they might deem fit to prevent it
spreading in the neighbourhood, after which the
meeting adjourned for a week.
A public meeting of the inhabitants of Godalming,
convened by Dr. Balchin, the mayor, was held at
the Town-hall on Friday evening, to take the same
subject into consideration. The Mayor presided,
and there was a large attendance.
After considerable discussion, a number of re-
solutions were unanimously agreed to. It was pro-
posed by Mr. Rea, and seconded by Mr. Roper,
" That no cattle, sheep, or horses be turned into
the ' common meadows' for 14 days from this
date." Proposed by Mr. Roker, and seconded by
Mr. Hull,' " That no stock of any description be
turned into the ' common meadows' without being
inspected by a competent person, and having been
in the owner's possession for 14 days." On the
motion of Mr. Murray Marshall, seconded by Mr.
R. Shotter, Mr. S. Evershed, veterinary surgeon,
was appointed to inspect the stock, with full power
to appoint a sufficient staff to carry out the preced-
ing resolutions.
Mr. M. Marshall, Mr. G. J. Hull, 111 r. T. Rea,
Mr. E. Eager, and Mr. IL Shotter were then nomi-
nated as a committee, and the proceedings termi-
nated.
On Saturday morning :numerous animals were
grazing on the " common meadows". as usual •, but
in compliance with the above resolutions they were
all turned out.