I. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL ECONOMY. 389 



and thus it appears that after the first four years hens cease 

 to be profitable as layers. 8 C, April 11, 1872, 119. 



INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON THE CATTLE-PLAGUE. 



Dr. Bouley, an eminent physiologist and veterinarian, who 

 has given special attention to the cattle-plague, has lately 

 made a very important report to the Academy of Sciences 

 of Paris of the proceedings of the International Sanitary 

 Convention, held March 16 of the present year at Vienna. 

 This had for its special object the determination of the best 

 methods of preventing the cattle-plague, and the taking into 

 consideration the question of establishing proper sanitary 

 regulations in regard to the cattle traffic between the coun- 

 tries represented in the convention. Delegates were present 

 from eleven states at the convention, namely, Germany, Aus- 

 tro-Hungary, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, the Rou- 

 manian Principalities, Russia, Servia, Switzerland, and Tur- 

 key. 



The delegates included in their number some of the best 

 veterinarians of their respective countries, as also various 

 officers specially charged with the enforcement of sanitary 

 regulations. The questions before the convention, which, by 

 previous notification, they were expected to discuss, w T ere 

 sixty-five, to which a few were added after the sessions com- 

 menced. It is a remarkable circumstance, however, that the 

 conclusions arrived at in regard to the regulation of the cat- 

 tle disease met with almost unanimous approval. This ac- 

 pord was largely due to the fact that there is at present but 

 little contrariety of opinion as to the exotic nature of the 

 disease (at least in regard to Western and Central Europe) 

 and as to its mode of propagation. It was well established 

 in the convention that, outside of Russia, it never develops 

 spontaneously upon any race of cattle, not even that of the 

 steppes; and consequently that, whenever it shows itself out- 

 side of its native home, it may be considered as imported. 



It is also well established that, even after it has continued 

 for a longer or shorter time in any given country, it is only 

 transmitted by contagion, and that it always becomes extinct 

 when the conditions favorable to its propagation cease to 

 exist. The idea, therefore, that the cattle-plague is an epi- 

 demic may as well be at once dismissed from every mind. 



