The Sun.
London, England, 1865-08-02 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2, 1865.

--4.- -

The Cattle Plague is now one of the most im-
portant things of the day, and as it affects in a direct
manner the interests of the community, it becomes a
matter of consequence to many to study the subject.
On Monday evening a meeting of the metropolitan
cowkeepers took place in the Marylebone Institution,
at Edwardes-street, Portman-square, in order to
consider the best plan to be adopted for the preven-
tion of the malady that has recently been im-
ported into London. The chief feature in the pro-
ceedings was a very interesting address by Professor
GAMGEE, the head of the Veterinary College of
Chelsea. He described the disease as incurable in
most cases, and highly infectious. The animal that
is attacked by it is generally doomed from the out-
The plague originated by infected foreign
cattle being brought to Islington Cattle Market,
and thus the sound cattle that came into contact
with them caught the infection, and in their turn
spread it abroad in a rapidly-widening circle. The
mischief that has been done may be best understood
by mentioning the fact that although little more
than a month has elapsed since its first ap-
pearance nearly two thousand cattle have
suffered. The Professor considers that the
best means to be taken for the prevention of the
further spread of the evil would be, to destroy
those affected ; and indeed, he truly adds, that
more decisive measures should have been adopted
at the outset for its eradication. When we take
into account the numerous ills that may arise
from the continuance of this calamity, we must
recognise the truth of the remark here made, that
the " Cattle Plague " might equal the " Cotton
Famine" in its magnitude as a national calamity.
One disastrous effect of its continuance will be
that typhus-fever will be germinated by the bad
and insufficient food occasioned by this disease.
The Professor stated that the people of this
country would not readily agree to the plan pur-
sued in foreign lands of the Government interfer-
ing—the English preferred " helping themselves."
This is strictly true ; but nevertheless it is a mat-
ter of importance to ascertain how to effect that
important object, and to let the community incur
the least possible risk. This disease is not a new
one among cattle ; on the contrary, it has existed
for centuries, and in 1747 thousands of cat-
tle perished or were destroyed, the owners
being compensated by the Government. It
was ascertained, however, that many frauds were
thus committed, and so the practice was discon-
tinued. Professor GAMGEE gave some excellent
advice concerning the best manner to adopt to put
a stop to the Cattle Plague. He proposed that the
cowkeepers should exert themselves strenuously, and
follow the same course pursued by the farmers in
North Wiltshire in 1862, when the small-pox pre-
vailed among the sheep of that locality. The disease
increased rapidly, so long as the farmers concealed
it, but at last they subscribed to pay for the de-
struction of the affectedanimals, and by thus stimu-
lating one another to speak openly, the evil was
eradicated in three weeks. Of course the cattle
plague could not be brought to a stop so readily as
this, but still much may be done with care and at-
tention, and this plan will be the best one to adopt
for its extinction as speedily as possible under the
circumstances of the case. It is to be hoped that
the scheme proposed
by the Professor will be carried
out, and that no more time will be lost in the adop-
tion of decisive measures. It often occurs that the
extent and duration of an evil .
mamly depend upon
the want of foresight at the outset. "A stitch in
time eaves nine" is indeed a true saying, and
applic-
able to many things in daily life, and it is much to
be regretted that so long a time, comparatively
speaking, should be suffered to elapse without the
most active measures being taken .to eradi-
cate the evil. It is impossible to exag-
gerate the mischief of delay, in such cases,
and as the circle widens so rapidly the whole coun-
try becomes equally afflicted after a certain period
has gone by. Nothing can be worse than to take
bad food, and in how many instances will not this
be done by the poor, the ignorant, and the helpless.
It is, indeed, a national question, and should be
taken up with every energy and resolution by those
empowered to act and well-qualified to judge.
Professor GAMGEE informed the meeting that he
had a staff of clever men belonging to the new
college at Chelsea, who would give their services
gratuitously to the sufferers in the present emer-
gency. This is very satisfactory intelligence, and
is to be hoped that the example will be followed by
many others who can render efficient service in the
necessity that exists. A gentleman said that the
magistrates were holding extra licensing days, so
that new cattle sheds might be licensed for the beim'