The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-01-16
THE CATTLE PLAGUE IN ENGLAND

The commission appointed by the British
Government to inquire into the nature OF the
cattle plague, and to ascertain the mode OF trest
ment best adapted for the cure of afflicted AMI
mails, and the regulations best adapted to pre-
vent the spread Of the disorder, have made
report, dated October 81: .
The commissioners consider, first, the out
break and spread of the disease In England 1t
was first recognized in that country towards the
close Of June last, and in all the earlier cases
seems to have been directly traceable to pur-
chases made in the Metropolitan Cattle Market.
Subsequently, Norwich hill, and other country
markets, became centres of infection, aud on
the l4th of October, it had extended to twenty
nine counties in England, two in Wales, and
sixteen in Scotland and was still advancing
The statement published by the Veterinary De,
partnent of the Privy Council Office as to the
number of cases Of attack, recovery and death
are referred to as inadequately representing the
extent of the evil, the cases reported .being but
a small proportion" of those which have actually
occurred. The commissioners notice reports
which connect the outbreak with an importation
of cattle from Revel and Holland, respectively,
but forbear to pronounce decided opinion
the actual orig in OF the disease. They attach
importance, however, to the fact that consider
able numbers Of cattle come every week into
this country from Hungary aud Galicia, coun-
tries whchtlie near the steppe country of Rus
sia in Europe, and are often attacked by the
plague.
The commissioners refer to the murrains
among the cattle in 1349 and 1880, and
doubtful whether they can be Identified with
the disease now aging; but they have no doubt
as to that which in Ills made brief inroad
and was promptly repellad, and that which in
fha otfoo md bald nd
until 1851 Each of the two latter muIrains
were exactly the same as the present plague.
The commissioners consider that there can
bono doubt whatever that the disease is conta-
gious, nor that the contag ion is extraordinarily
swift, subtle, and most destructive in its effects.
Of the witnesses examined, even those who be-
eve that it was spontaneously generated, have
acknowledged that it is contagious. The COM
missioEers see no reason to question the evi-
dence which has been produced before them,
proving that it is the same disease as that which
has been long known under the name Of the
riuderpest (cattle plague) or steppe murrain.
Part. of the commission dissented from certain
recommendations made by their colleagues, and
presented separate reports The majority sug-
gested stoppase Of all movements of cattle in
England: the. minority objected to this.
The statistics show that up to the 2lst of o.
tober, 1900, period OF rather more thah tour
months frem the time when the disease first
appeared in Islington, 1903 animals had been
attacked, that of these GIL had died, 5,119
had been slaughtered, 707 bad recovered, and
l ,546 remained under treatment The estima-
ted number of horned cattle in Great Britain is
about seven millions, SO that less than per
| one thousand Of such cattle have died Of the
disease in four months, or about one per day for
every 10000 head. During the same period
of four months, sound and healthy cattle of the
average value of (say) Els l5s per head, have
been imported from foreign countries at the
average rate of 1000 per day, so that by the
operation of the present system, involving care
full inspection at the ports of landing, the gain
| to the country has been 166 sound cattle for
each one hat died of the disease.