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

to, it was said-that-it was better to have a Tise for
two months than for the next two years. The
best proof of the danger appertaining to railwa7l
trucks, Mr. THOMPSON, who is the chairman of ione
of the largest railway companies in the king dom,
stated that he would not, as a farmer, sen d any
cattle in the trucks except to be slaughterea Sir
G. GREY stated that he had heard of a. case in
which some cattle were brought from Scot-
land and had no food or water for
three days. No answer has as yet been
given to his inquiries respecting the matter. The
cruelty of such a practice must be sufficiently ob-
vious to all, and at this especial juncture it must be
very injurious in its effects. Mr. THOMPSON re-
marked that the returns now made do not at all
represent the actual state of affairs respecting the
plague in many cases, for no mention was made of
the numbers sent to market unfit for food and too
young for the butcher.
Respecting the experiments suggested by the
committee, Lord GRANVILLE stated that a thousand
pounds had been entrusted to the commission which
was now sitting, in order that they might institute
all needful experiments.
It must be admitted that many and great are the
obstacles in the way of the Commission ; but at the
same time it does not seem that they are doing all
in their power to meet the emergency that has pre-
sented itself. Suggestions are constantly being
made regarding the cure of this dreadful disease,
but we do not hear that much heed is paid to them
by those in authority to deal with the matter. Such
indifference is to be lamented at a time when the
pestilence is destroying in the noonday its hundreds
and tens of hundreds to the loss and grievance of our
community. A despatch has been received from her
MAJESTY'S Consul-General at Odessa, which contains
some important intelligence respecting the cattle
plague, and is worthy of attentive consideration.
It appears that the plague which rages now in
England exists almost permanently on the " steppes
of Kherson," and Mr. GRENVILLE MURRAY has very
wisely caused inquiries to be made among the
peasantry concerning its treatment. " Inflammation
arising from cold," is stated to be the real origin of
the complaint in all cases, and some modes of treat-
ment are found to be efficacious ; but the one most
in vogue at present is to throw the animal into a
"profuse sweat," and then to guard it from cold.
It seems that the particulars of this method coincide
in effect with Mr. URQUHART'S plan which he has
so strongly recommended already, and which has
not been yet put into practice. Even if unsuccess-
ful no harm would arise from its adoption, and, at
any rate, it would not be more fatal than the
pole-axe. It is worthy of notice that the chief
characteristics of the treatment, tolerably success-
ful in these places, are soothing and strengthening,
not violent, remedies. " Medicine is seldom pre-
scribed, but sometimes a little nitre dissolved in hot
water is given lukewarm during the sweat, or
immediately after, and linseed gruel, with gentian, to
excite appetite are also now and then administered
when the violence of the outbreak subsides."
All this seems very different to the stringent mea-
sures resorted to hi this country in cases where re-
medies are employed, and some of our practitioners
might take a hint with advantage from these
foreigners as to the efficacy of a milder mode being
adopted. Cattle are not slaughtered to prevent
infection, we learn in this despatch, but many
measures are adopted to stop the spread of the dis-
order. One of these plans is very easy of applica-
tion. It is to place pots of tar here and there in the
cattle sheds or stables. We cannot have too much
information on this vital question, and it is to be
trusted that all possible attention will be paid to
suggestions that may prove of essential service in
a calamity which in some respects has had no equal
in the memory of the present generation.

The citizens of London are determined to effect
a vigorous reform in a matter of great social inte-
rest and importance. They cannot, indeed, deal
with it at present beyond the precincts of the City
itself, but they are going to set a very praiseworthy
and sensible example to all who suffer from an un-
reasonable monopoly. The gas and water com-
panies have lately come in for several sharp attacks,
and their arbitary reign seems drawing to a close.
After the true English fashion, we have all grumbled
but submitted to inefficient service at high cost, and
so long had this system gone on that the companies
for the most part refuse to listen to the most tem-
perate remonstrance. They hold in their hands
a ready means of punishing refractory customers
and of enforcing the prompt payment of their
claims, since no one likes to be left in the dark nor
to be deprived of water. Pay first and complain
afterwards is the rule—a rule more pleasant and
profitable to the companies than to the public. The
hardships are especially apparent in respect to the
gas companies, which too often supply very inferior
gas, while they charge what price they like. Thanks
to the ingenious system of mapping out London
into districts, each supplied by one company only,
there is no means of appeal or redress. If the gas
supplied to a tradesman or a householder is
inferior in quality and dear in price, he can
do nothing but complain to the offenders
themselves. No competition keeps them up
to the mark, neither can the dissatisfied cus-
tomer turn elsewhere for a cheaper and more satis-
factory supply. Our good citizens are getting tired
of this system, and as the quantity
.of gas consumed
east of Temple7hatis something pretty considerable,
.. .. i
and the daylight n' their— domaipi •is neither the
ecie4xestnor the most lasting at any time, they have
•
.eeilainly a good right to initiate a reform. Several
circumstances tend to render the City an especially
suitable area for making a new experiment ; the
1 system of municipal authority, and the wealth and
business habits of the citizens, removing a good
many of the local difficulties which would be felt
in other places. The citizens, in fact, have formed
the bold
\
and comprehensive scheme of manufac-
turing theircould
owngas, which there is very little
doubt they do at a much lower rate, and of
a much quality
better
. _ . than by the present system.
[ A special eonnnittee appointed •'
was -last October,o
consider the whole (Neat-
ion :of the -City gas-sappip:
and the Chairman, yesterd •• " "• t 1 ay, at the meeting oi tae'
CommOl Connell, brought h •
up. 't ei
r report. The
Committee, recommend that they should
be autho-.
rised to introduce a bill into Parliament to enable
the Corporation 'to erect works and engage for the
supply of gas to the citizens, for which bill they
have given the necessary notices. With a view
to the erection of the works the Committee have
examined a number of sites in the eastern and
north-eastern districts, and have selected one on the
banks of the Thames about six miles from the City,
having ascertained from scientific evidence that the
works might be erected at a distance of from six to
seven miles without any loss of illuminating power,
provided the gas were, in the first instance,
properly made. With regard to the probable
expense, they state that it would, including the
purchase of the land, be about £425,000. It
is worth notice that Mr. BONTEMS, the Chairman of
the Committee,:mentioned incidentally, in moving
the adoption of the report, that the profits of one
of the three
companies who now supply the City
with gas amounted last year to £26,000 ! This is,
certainly, au encouragement to citizens to persevere