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

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The Cattle D a

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MEETING OF THE METROPOLITAN
PLAGUE COMMITTEE.
Yesterday afternoon a meeting of the Metropolitan Cattle
Plague Committee was held in the Council-chamber of the
Guildhall, at which Mr. Gibbins (Chairman of the Markets
Committee) presided, in the absence of the Lord Mayor.
Among others present were—Messrs. Haines, Hall, Taylor,
Helps, Straker, Rudkin, Burkett, Hoppe, and other mem-
bers of the committee; also Dr. Tripe, Mr. A. J. Lord, Dr.
Griffiths, Professor Gamgee, Dr. Kiend, Dr. Millers, Dr.
Burges, Dr. Ansel], Dr. Iliff, Dr. Barclay, Dr. Ellison, Dr.
Puckle, Dr. Baker, Messrs. Games, Giblett, Guerrier,
Brewster, and others.
The minutes of the former meeting having been road and
confirmed,
The CHAIRMAN described the object for which they had'
met, and the anxious desire of the committee that the medi-
cal gentlemen present, whom they had wished to be present,
would aid them in their deliberations. He had received
several letters of some importance to the committee, to two
of which he begged to draw special attention—the first from •
Mrs. Nicholls, of Laycock's Dairy, Islington, and the other
from Dr. Bourguignon, of which the following are abstracts—
Mrs. Nicholls, addressing the Lord Mayor, says—" Being
informed that you will graciously preside at a committee of
gentlemen who meet for the purpose of raising a fund to re-
imburse the metropolitan cowkeepers for their heavy losses,
I take the liberty of laying before you a case that has already
met with some public notice. Towards the latter end of
June the cattle plague first appeared in my sheds.. The
little time that the virulent nature of the disease allowed
for medical treatment was unceasingly employed in admi-
nistering physic prescribed by Mr. Priestman. Your lord-
ship is, however, aware that no treatment has yet proved
efficacious in arresting the progress of this fearful malady,
and being ignorant at first to what cause to attribute such
fatal results, the greater part of my stock were suffered to
die or be slaughtered on the premises. In less than a fort-
night 85 cows were sacrificed, at a loss of £2,042 10s. 11d."
Dr. Bourguignon, also addressing the Lord Mayor, says :
" The works upon comparative pathology which I have
published, and the bonds of friendship which at present unite
England and France will not allow me to remain an indif-
ferent spectator of the epizootic malady which at present
extends its ravages over the face of Great Britain. It is
nearly a month since that, seeing no important work upon
this disease among cattle had appeared, I determined to
lek-eupertypen; and to citing a pamphlet which -I trust will
be of actual service in this matter. I had not intended
publishing anything before finishing my work, but the
unsatisfactory articles which appeared in the daily papers
induced me to break silence. This epizootic is not so little
known, or so incurable as people would appear to believe.
A century ago your countrymen described it with remark-
able talent, and what is more, proposed a mode of preser-
vation or prophylactic treatment, viz., inoculation so effi-
cacious that at the present time it is used with the most
complete success in some parts of Russia. To cure a disease
is without doubt a noble mission for men of science, but it
is to its prevention that all their efforts should tend ; and
as we possess the precious means for this end, it only re-
mains for us to apply it. We can no more cure typhus
in cattle than we can cure typhoid fever and smallpox in
man. When these diseases are developed we assist nature
in her curative process. As regards typhus in horned
cattle we do the same, and thus diminish the number of
victims; but the true remedy is inoculation, practised ac-
cording to a rational and scientific method, by transmitting
to animals inhealth the virus which is the result of a second
or of a third generation of this virus."
The CHAIRMAN said that one great object of this meeting
was to discuss the ;propriety of establishing sanatoriums
for the reception of diseased cattle ; a motion that was
spoken for and against by several gentlemen present.
Ultimately, however, a series of resolutions were adopted,
of which the following is an epitome :-
1. That one or more sheds or sanatoriums be provided
in such places as may be approved of by the medical officer
of health for the district, for the reception of animals
affected with the cattle plague; and that no animals be
received into such sheds except under a certificate from
the inspector of the district.
2. That a committee be formed for the regulation and
management of the sanatoriums.
3. That a compensation committee be appointed, for the
purpose of investigating the reports of the inspectors, and
settling the amount to be paid to the owners of cattle handed
over to the committee, and that such committee be autho-
rised to draw cheques for the payment of the amount to be
agreed upon.
4. That inspectors be appointed by the'compensation
committee to visit the premises of such persons as may give
notice of the outbreak of the disease, and that such inspec-
tors report to the committee forthwith the circumstances of
each case, and their opinion as to the value of each animal
affected.
5. That the committees be empowered to obtain the ex-
clusive use of so many carts as may be found necessary for
the conveyance of diseased animals to such places as may
be considered advisable.
6. That application be made to all the bankers, merchants,
brewers, salesmen, and others in the metropolitan district
for contributions towards the fund.
7. That circulars be sent to all the propOsters of ,horned
cattle in the metropolitan district, informing. them ef the
objects of the committee, and inviting their ettteperation.
8. That a record of the ieporte of the inspectors, and of
all particulars and statistics forwarded to the committee,
be kept by the secretary.
The meeting then adjeuenel.
It is understood that the future gatheciugs of the com-
mittee will be held at the Mansion-house.