46 PKOCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 



Kincardine, .... Slight. 



Perth— S.W., . , . Prevalent. 



Other Districts, . . Slight. 



Argyll, .... Prevalent. 



Bute, .... Prevalent. 



Arran, .... Prevalent. 



Dumbarton, . . . Prevalent in parts of County. 



Stirling — "West, . . . Prevalent in Buchanan district. 



. ( Prevalent in Carrick district, especially 



^y^' ' ' • ■ ' \ about Barr. 



Lanark — Upper Ward, . . Prevalent. 



Haddington, . . . Prevalent on certain farms. 



Roxburgh, .... Prevalent. 



Peebles, .... Prevalent in parts of County. 



Selkirk, .... Prevalent. 

 Dumfries — Upper and Middle 



Nithsdale, . . Prevalent. 



Upper Annandale, . Prevalent. 



Eskdale, and Ewes Water, Prevalent. 



Wigtown, .... Prevalent. 



Kirkcudbright, . . . Slightly. 



The amount of mortality and pecuniary loss sustained by proprietors and farmers 

 from this disease is enormous, and the discovery of a means of preventing or mitigating 

 its ravages would be one of the greatest boons that could be bestowed on the very large 

 number who suffer by it. 



The chief difficulty attending the investigation into the nature of the disease is its 

 sudden and rapidly fatal character, so that animals are frequently found dead before 

 they have been noticed to be ailing. This is the season of the year when it is most 

 prevalent, and Professor Williams, Dr. Aitken, and Dr. Hamilton have been giving the 

 disease their best attentions. Professor Williams' researches so far support his former 

 opinion that it is analogous to, if not identical with, anthrax ; while through the 

 hearty co-operation and assistance, however, of Mr. Sanderson, Bonnington, near 

 Peebles, on whose farm the disease is very prevalent, Dr. Aitken and Dr. Hamilton 

 have been successful in getting a case of " sickness," "inflammation," or"braxy," 

 during the progress of the disease, as well as others very soon after death. The result 

 of their investigations, so far as they have gone, leave no doubt on their minds that 

 this also is is a " germ disease,'' and they are sanguine that further investigations will 

 enable them to provide a preventative. This is a line of investigation which, in the 

 hands of Pasteur and other French chemists and physiologists, has been attended with 

 marvellous results, and on which the French Government are annually spending several 

 thousand pounds. 



In this country, on the other hand, such matters are left to private enterprise, and it 

 seems only right that the Highland and Agricultural Society should, as far as possible, 

 lead the van in this as well as in other inquiries in which the interests of agriculture 

 are so deeply concerned ; and to the committee it seems hardly possible that a portion 

 of the funds of the Society could be better applied than in the thorough working out of 

 this present inquiry into the nature and causes of these fell diseases affecting so largely 

 the health and mortality of the sheep stock over the greater part of the pastoral dis- 

 tricts of Scotland. The committee, therefore, hope the Directors will see their way to 

 make such a grant as will ensure such an imi:)ortant end. 



The report was adopted. 



Agricultural Bursaries. — Mr. Mylne, Niddrie Mains, reported that the examina- 

 tion for the Society's bursaries was held on the 26th of October, when Daniel Finlay- 

 son, Wick ; Peter Reid, Waulkmill, Linlithgow ; James Walker, 24 St. Andrew Square, 

 Edinburgh ; Henry Angus Watson, U.P. Manse, Forres ; and R. P. Wright, Downam, 

 Ballantrae, passed for bursaries of £20 each ; and Robert J. Campbell, Slagnaw, Castle 

 Douglas ; George Cormack, Humster, Wick ; James Grant, Wick ; and Robert Seton, 

 East Watton, Wick, for bursaries of £10 each. 



District Competitions. — Mr. Campbell Swinton of Kimmerghame reported the 

 premiums awarded in 1881, and those offered in 1882. 



Cottage Competitions. — Mr. Campbell Swinton, in the absence of Mr. Maxwell 

 Inglisof Loganbank, reported the premiums awarded in 1881, and those offered in 1882. 



Premiums Awarded for Reports in 1881 and Offered in 1882 — "Transac- 

 tions" FOR 1882. — The Secretary, in the absence of Mr. Irvine of Drum, reported the 

 premiums awarded for reports in 1881, and those offered in 1882 ; and the contents of 

 the forthcoming volume of Trayisactions. 



On the motion of Mr. Eliott Lockhart, a vote of thanks was accorded to the Earl of 

 Mar and Kellie for presiding, and the proceedings terminated. 



