STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 309 



THE RINDERPEST, OR CATTLE PLAGUE. 



This disease among the cattle of the continent of Europe and in the 

 British Isles, is becoming a very serious matter. At first it was sup- 

 posed to be confined to horn cattle; but of late it has broken out among 

 sheep, and is doing great damage. We also see it stated that it has 

 made its appearance among the animals, of various kinds, in Paris, 

 where they had been collected for acclimating; the zebra, deer, goats, 

 and gazelles, being attacked with it, and numbers were slaughtered to 

 prevent its spread. It is also found to be much more contagious than it 

 was first supposed to be. 



That our farmers may know all of the disease that is possible, we 

 quote from the report of Professor Simonds a description of the disease. 

 Professor Simonds was sent by the various agricultural societies of Eng- 

 land, Scotland, and Ireland, some years since, to the German States, 

 where the disease was raging, for the purpose of stud^nng the nature of 

 the disease, and the means, if any, necessary to be adopted by the Gov- 

 ernment of England, to prevent its introduction into that country; and 

 as he is one of the best veterinary professors known, his report is 

 regarded as very correct and valuable. 



Isaac Newton, Commissioner of Agriculture, has interlined some 

 explanations in the report, which are retained : 



" Sponfaneoiis On'i/in. — The steppes (prairies) of Pussia are the home of 

 the rinderpest, and here it may be said to hold almost undisputed sway, 

 little being done by the imperial government to stay its ravages. Here, 

 also, as has been elsewhere stated, it is alone regarded as having a spon- 

 taneous origin, but with what amount of correctness we are unable to say. 

 Doubtless every disease has had its place of origin, and in it there may 

 exist persistent causes which keep alive, so to speak, the cause of sin. 

 Such causes may possibl}^ be found on these vast plains of Eussia, and if 

 so, here would be the natural habitation of the pest. Be this as it vaay, 

 it is certain that in these countries which are contiguous to the steppes 

 the malady has no such origin, and its appearance in them is invariably 

 associated with the recent introduction of steppe cattle, and generally in 

 the ordinary course of traffic. 



" Ganeral sijmptom.s of the Fesf. — Wlien the animal sickens, the afFcctioa 

 will be recognized by almost continuous spasmodic twitchings of the 

 voluntary muscles of "the body, more particularly those of the neck and 



