The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-08 00:00:00

THE METROPOLIS.

The Maas steamer, which is constructed expressly
for the cattle trade, arrived at Brown's-wharf, Black-
wall, in the course of Wednesday with a large cargo
of live stock, consisting of several hundredsheep and
pigs and some 280 head of oxen. Mr. Simonds, the
veterinary surgeon appointed by the Customs, and
the examining officers were in attendance, and made
the usual survey before the landing of the cattle was
proceeded with. The beasts were generally in avery
healthy condition, but the state of a cow among the
oxen excited some attention, and a belief being en-
tertained that the animal was suffering from some
disease, the veterinary surgeon directed that it should

be at once slaughtered. That was quickly done in
the shed near the wharf, and on the surgeon making
an examination of the carcase, traces were found of
an early stage of the prevailing disease. The Com-
missioners of Customs directed that the whole of the
oxen should be placed under quarantine, in order to
see whether the disease would develope itself among
any of them. On being landed the cattle were driven
into an extensive and open piece of ground or lair
near the wharf, between the river and the east wall
of the West India-dock. They appeared in very
good condition, and it was stated that there was not
the slightest sign of disease about them. Several
cartloads of hay were distributed among the beasts,
and there was a fresh and liberal supply of water in
the tanks within the lair. The customs also took
other precautions, in having the wharf and ground
properly cleansed and using disinfectants. As yet no
symptoms of disease have appeared among the oxen.
The owners of some 20 or 30 of the cattle have ap-
plied to have their stock slaughtered at the lair, and
the carcasses sent to the market for sale. The other
portion of the cargo of the Maas—the sheep and
pigs—not being liable to infection in the same degree
as oxen was landed, and sent on for yesterday's
market. The carcase of the diseased cow, after being
rendered quite unfit for human consumption by
carbolic acid being poured over it, was sent to a
knacker's to be boiled down for fat.

At the meeting of the vestry of St. George, Han-
over-square, yesterday, a report was read from the
medical officers of health showing the progress of
the disease in that parish. The report contained
this statement On the evening of the 30th of
August Mr. Grant, the insfector, who commonly
visits all the yards twice or thrice a week, missed
several cows from the sheds of Chas. Hatt in Ebury-
street. This led to an inquiry, from which it was
ascertained that the disease had appeared not-only
at Mr. Hatt's, but likewise on the premises of Mr.
Dexter, in Kinnerton-street. On the following day
we visited Mr. Dexter's yard, in company with Mr.
Grant, and observed in one of his sheds two cows
seriously ill. We were then told that one cow had
been noticed to be unwell on the 21st of August,
but as the symptoms were not decided she was sent
away and killed that same night. On Thursday,
the 24th, we are told one other cow sickened, with
decided symptoms, and on Friday, the 25th, two
others, which three last mentioned soon died in
the shed. The two which we saw ill were sent
away under the directions of the Government
inspector the same night. Since that time up
to September sth six others have sickened, of
which four have been destroyed and two have re-
covered. It thus appears that Mr. Dexter has 10 out
of the 32 which we saw healthy on the 9th of August.
We may observe that Mr. Dexter's premises are scru-
pulously clean, airy, and well-managed, and that
from the first appearrnce of the disease great pains
were taken to disinfect the premises and the dung
before it was removed. The cowyard of Mr. Hatt, in
Ebury-street, is certainly not a model, and leaves
something to be desired as regards neatness. Still
there has been nothing which could account for the
terrible visitation which has taken place. On Aug.
26 he had 103 cows in this place. According to the
best information we can get, 30 of these were sent
away on the 28th, 29th, and 30th Aug., some to
market and some to slaughter-houses. Early on the
morning of the 31st 40 were sent to the Islington
Cattle-market, in addition to one from Mr. Hatt's
cowyard in Brewer-street, where he keeps 35. The
whole 41 were seized at Islington by the inspector.
On the 31st 33 cows were left, but this day (Sept.
6) the number is reduced to 12, every one of which
is ill and condemned by the inspector ; so that this
cowyard is virtually emptied of 103 cows in less
than a week. On Sept. 6 we also learn that Mr.
Gilbert, who had nine cows in a shed on the pre-
mises of Mr. Dexter on Aug. 9, has sent away seven,
and that the remaining two are ill, notice of which
has been sent to the Government inspector."
At the Clerkenwell Police-court, yesterday, Mr.
Gibbins, the chairman of the Metropolitan Mar-
kets Committee ; Mr. Rudldn, a member of the
committee ; Mr. Tegg, veterinary surgeon to the
market; and Mr. Baldry, clerk to the market, ap-

plied for summonses against cowkeepers for send-
ing diseased cows into the market. They stated
that during the course of yesterday and Wednesday
no less than 19 cows had been seized in the market
and lairs and condemned. The summonses were
granted.