The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-22 00:00:00

by way of a description of the cattle plague and the
remedies to be applied." It is certainly very curious
to notice that not only the symptoms are the same
as those of the malady of ancient times, but also
that the remedies are synonymous. The beasts
affected by it are to be killed and buried at once,
and the hide was then, as now, prohibited from
being of service, neque erat, coriis usus ; so that, as
the right hon. gentleman observed, in the time of
VIRGIL there existed the same complaint, only it was
not then called the Russian Plague, probably because
they had never heard of Russia.
In illustration of the fulfilment of his predictions,
Mr. DISRAELI adverted to the circumstance of the
first prize-cup of that day having been given to
a " cross between a Dawn and a Cotswold."
Thus the observation he made last year had been
sanctioned by the judges who presided on the occa-
sion. The right hon. gentleman made some remarks
on the general aim and object of such associations
as that which then called them together ; and truly
stated that they had higher ends in view than to dis-
cuss the particulars of a good harvest, or to deplore
the effect of a bad one. " What we ought to aspire
to," said ho, "is not only to effect good, but the
greatest good." In pursuance of this theme, the
right hon. gentleman exhorted those around
him to persevere in their efforts to strive to
do their utmost to excel. Mr. DISRAELI proved
himself a true friend to the association by
dwelling upon the importance of exertion and the
progress that should be made. The county does
not take the position it might, he reminded them,
considering its rich opportunities of excellence, at
the same time he cautioned them against abrupt
charges and hasty conclusions. " Well consider
everything, time is precious, but truth is more
precious than time, and therefore it is for you
calmly to consider what I have said to-day."
Certainly there can be no practical good done
and no real advantage gained if the members of
Societies and Associations merely forget to flatter
each other and congratulate themselves that they
thus remedy defects and provide for defi-
ciencies. It is only by care and attention that
the difficulties which environ such subjects can be
ascertained, and, of course, as time goes on, it is
necessary to move forward in union with the general
progress of the day. Mr. DISRAELI has made some
valuable suggestions to the inhabitants of the county
of Buckingham ; and, no doubt, after a time, they
will recognise the importance of his remarks and
understand the confusion that arises from mixing
up local with general societies, which are, and ought
to be, diverse in their arrangements and separate in
their plans, although both might work in unison for
the furtherance of the common cause at heart—the
prosperity of the country—and through that to con-
duce to the general interests of the community.

When any matter of social interest becomes the
theme of public discussion, we are not long before

we hear the sentiments of the well-known corres-

pondent of our contemporary who signs himself
S. G. 0. Just now the conditions most favourable
or unfavourable to public health are prominent

topics of the day, and accordingly S. G. 0. gives
us his views of the matter in an epistle reflecting

on the respective requirements of cattle and
Christians. The amount of care and attention

bestowed upon the sick cattle appears very un-
warrantably to have excited the indignation of the

wiiter. Is a cow, he asks, of more value than a
Christian, forgetting rather illogically that it is

only as supplying the wants of man that the cows

get any attention, and that were it not for the effect
upon beef and milk they might die unheeded and

uncared for. The extent of our humanity towards

our cattle has been pretty accurately measured by

the degree in which their comfort or wellbeing con

terns ourselves, and the imported cattle might have

continued to be subjected to all the old hardships
of hunger, thirst., neglect, and exposure, closely pent
in stifling holds, or in dirty railway trucks, if
we had not suddenly been made to suffer pretty

severely in our pockets for our oblivion of com-
mon humanity. But S. G. 0. has some grounds

for indignation, for the truth is that we treat

our poor very much as we used to treat our
cattle. We suffer them to herd together under
the most unfavourable conditions, deprived
not only of those comforts which it needs
money to procure, but of those common necessaries
of healthy life which should be within the easy

reach of every man, woman, and child amongst us,
Unless our attention is specially called bj the out.
break of a pestilence or the visitation of an epidemic
we are not likely to give much heed to the con-

stantly repeated story. Typhus in all its forms has
grown too common to commanda moment's thought,
and our registrars and dispensary doctors preach
to us in vain. The very means which the upper and
middle classes take to improve their own health,
and to put into practice some of those theories
about fresh air and ample space which our scientific
men are always upholding, tell indirectly, against
the poor. The great increase of the railway lines,
partially consequent upon the demand for suburban
houses and the increased suburban traffic, has
packed the already overcrowded poor into still
smaller space ; it has summoned workmen and.their
families to live in those parts where the houses are
being the most rapidly demolished ; and, while
villas, and terraces, and squares have sprung up in
endless repetition, few if any houses for the labour-
ing classes have been erected about the metropolis.
Yet, after all, the question is not au easy one to deal
with. Certainly we cannot let all improvements and
alterations stand still because they will entailthe de-
molition of the dwellings of the poor, neither can we
by any legislative enactment insure clean, whole-
some habitations, and all the requisites of health,
to the masses. " Let the public now say," demands
the writer referred to, " whether or no tens of thou-
sands of Christians are not for ever living and
dying among us, we knowing well that they have
not these common elements of health which we are
bound to give our cattle." To this appeal there can
be but one answer given, but to the further question,
moreiVsoh nadet s
p e
iotbeingpoor of
to
id.coopnllleyr.ftoor the crowded, ill-fed, air-.
It
tniss
very
and villages
evident ?"a itt
no
place -within our jurisdiction should be deficient in
drainage, means of ventilation, and supply of water;
but when we have secured all this, and even pro-
vided against excessive crowding of the houses, how
abits
habits
of we to guardagaaignsnasittt thhepe food,doorensecity dirtyair which
e
of the people, and
enters their rooms when they open their windows
The difficulties are great, so great that we must
ep le, that is
have patience—only patiencedoes not mean inaction.
As regards the dirty habits
an
evil only to be cured by timeof the people,
and It
oinstruction.
is useless to hope that landlords will as a rule
trouble themselves about the matter, but something
might be done by refusing to let rooms to really
wilfully dirty families, but more is to be expected
from the gradual spread of education and
the consequent refining influence, as well as from
the encouragement afforded by a proper supply of
air and water. The latter should be plentifully and
constantly supoliA to every house in tho metropolis,
If we wrut ta.34-(35 Lvell and epidemic. The
j4•ainage and. olcanling, of drains, durain:, and every
accunaulai-ion of putrid 0: rause matter, should
be atzonuom,ly iluitate4 cal by every district