The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-14 00:00:00

The Cattle Disease.

The Sanatorium Committee of the Corporation of
London held a meeting yesterday in the Long Par-

lour at the Mansion House, at 3 o'clock. Mr. Gib-
bins, the chairman of the markets' committee, pre_

sided.

Mr. GIBBS, the secretary, read the answer of Lord
Palmerston, through his secretary, the Hon. Evelyn
Ashley, to the application that he should meet a de-
putation from the committee to confer with them
on the subject of appointing a royal commission to
inquire concerning the cattle plague, referring them
to the commission that had just been created.
Mr. GIBBINS, the chairman, informed the com-
mittee that he had undergone a long examination
before the royal commission ; but during the whole
time he said that not a single question had been put
to him upon the subject of having a sanatorium
with a view to endeavour to cure animals that were
afflicted with the disease. It was not until the close
of his examination, when he was asked whether he
desired to make any suggestion to the commis-
sioners, that he had an opportunity of expressing
the strong conviction he entertained that some steps
should be taken to try to discover some mode of
curing the disease, and that the practice of indiscri-
minately slaughtering the animals that were attacked
by the malady was likely to lead to most disastrous
consequences in regard to the supply of food.
Several members then expressed their views as to
the course that was best to be adopted, and
Dr. TRIPE said that as Lord Palmerston had re-
ferred the deputation to the royal commission that
was now sitting, it appeared to him the committee
ought not to desist from their labours under exist-
ing circumstances, but that the deputation, or at all
events a portion of them, should go before the
Royal Commission and express their views as to the
curability of the disease, and the necessity at any
rate of endeavouring to do so. He proposed a
motion to that effect, which was seconded by Mr.
Straker.

Mr. GUERRIER, who is an extensive cattle sales-
man, said he was in a position to state a fact within
his own knowledge with reference to this disease,
which he considered of great importance. A short
time back a cargo of foreign cattle, consisting of
108 animals, arrived at Harwich, and one of them
was suffering from this malady, and was removed
and died. The whole of the remainder were per-
fectly healthy, and were declared so by the Govern-
ment inspector, and were killed and sent up to
London. Ten others, that were consigned to another
party, were placed in quarantine, and at the end of
the prescribed period these also were declared by the
inspector to be quite healthy. These facts, it ap-
peared, clearly showed either that this disease was
not the rinderpest at all, or, if it was, that it was
not so infectious as was represented, for out of this
entire cargo only one animal died.

The CHAIMIAN observed that it appeared to him
that it was very essential that facts such as those
that had just been stated should be brought to the
knowledge of the Royal Commission, with a view
to guide them as to the course they should adopt.
Mr. Gar said there was no doubt at all in his
mind that this disease among cattle was curable,
and he was himself aware of one case where some
cows had been condemned by the Government in-
spector, but, in consequence of the knacker's man
who had been applied to not being able to come at
the moment to them, they were subjected to cura-
tive treatment, and the whole of them recovered.
Mr. RUTKIN also cited another case within his
knowledge, where 30 cows belonging to a cowkeeper
named Jones, residing in New-street, Whitechapel,
had been condemned, and 2,4 out of the 30 were
entirely cured under the treatment of some cowman
living in the neighbourhood.

The motion of Dr. Tripe was eventually carried,
and arrangements were then made with regard to
the gentlemen who should be deputed to give
evidence before the Royal Commission, and the
nature of the facts to which they should more par-
ticularly direct their attention, after which the com-
mittee adjourned.