12 PROCEEDINGS AT BOARD MEETINGS. 



account of pleuro-pneumonia having broken out in a dairy at Bridgend, in the town 

 of Perth. He tlien detailed the circumstances attending tlie outbreak. 



The Chairman said tliat the Directors were unanimously of opinion that the 

 Secretary was quite right in having called the meeting. 



A deputation from the Local Authority of Perth, consisting of Dean of Guild 

 Mackenzie, Treasurer Wilson, and Mr Keay, Depute Town-Clerk, was then introduced 

 to the meeting. 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said that the Lord Provost of Perth would have been 

 present, but that he was away on a holiday. He would, however, endeavour to lay 

 before the Board representations such as he believed his Lordship would have done 

 in the circumstances. Knowing that this meeting was to be held, they thought that 

 the fact of pleuro-pneumonia having unfortunately broken out within the precincts 

 of the Local Authority might form an element in the decision to which the Directors 

 might come in regard to the holding of the Show. While the outbreak was within 

 the jurisdiction of the Local Authority of Perth, it was, as some of them were aware, 

 isolated to some extent from the burgh. The cattle had never grazed on the public 

 parks of the city, or on the Inches, on which the Show was to be hehl. They grazed 

 in a park one and a half miles distant from the Showyard on the other side of the 

 water. They were not in contact at all with any of the cattle grazing on the Inches. 

 When the outbreak was reported to the Local Authority they ordered the whole cows 

 on the place — 18 in number— to be slaughtered, and they took every precaution so 

 that there might be as little risk of spreading the disease as possible. They had the 

 animals placed in a low cart, used for the purpose of conveying large heavy cattle 

 which were off their feet, and they had them taken by that means to the slaughter- 

 house and all slaughtered, so that those cattle, in the streets or otherwise, were not 

 in contact with any other animals in the city. The cattle that were first attacked in 

 this outbreak came to the city early in the sjjring from a healthy locality, and how it 

 was affected the veterinary surgeon could not understand. The animal first affected 

 came from a healthy farm, in which there was no disease. There was an outbreak in 

 the county not far from the farm in the month of November last, but they had not 

 been able to trace anything else. Therefore, so far as it appeared to the Local 

 Authority, nothing had arisen which should prevent people from sending their cattle 

 to Perth. The place on which the Show was to be held was the same as was 

 arranged at last meeting, and was approached by a new road made by the railway 

 company. The Secretary would inform the meeting that the road was from the 

 loading bank, which would not be used by cattle for a considerable time before the 

 Show, and the place where the Show would be held would be cleared from this time 

 to that. None of the cattle in Perth had ever been in contact with the cattle that 

 were slaughtered, and no cattle either arriving or leaving ever did so. The Local 

 Authority wished to urge that no circumstances had arisen that had changed the 

 position of matters since the meeting was held at which it was decided to hold the 

 Show. In the interests of the Society, and for the credit of the city, the Local 

 Authority would be sorry if the Show was not to be a success. The members of the 

 Local Authority were perhaps divided as to whether it should be held with cattle or 

 not, but they thought it would be better for the Society and the community that it 

 should at all events go on, because it would be difficult to get a town or city where 

 there would not be an outbreak at some time or other. If any further informa- 

 tion were desired, he and the other members of the deputation would be haj^py to 

 give it. 



Trea.surer Wilson said he did not think he had anything to add to what had been 

 stated by Dean of Guild Mackenzie. Had it not been that the Local Authority knew 

 that several of the Directors knew the locality and were aware of the circumstances, 

 and if they had not thought it would have shown disrespect or indifference to the 

 Society, they would have considered the matter so trifling that they would not have 

 thought it necessary to put in an appearance. Those who were in the locality and 

 were aware of the circumstances could not say that there was any great danger. 



In reply to j\Ir Paterson of Birthwood, 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said that the animal that was first detected as being 

 affected with pleuro-pneumonia was bought at one of the sales early m the sjjring. 

 It came from a farm which was healthy, and which remained healthy. 



Mr Paterson asked how long it was since the detection was made ? 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said on Saturday week— the week before last. The 

 whole of the eighteen animals were slaughtered "on Tuesday the 21st. 



Mr Paterson asked whether on examination it was found tliat the lungs of 

 the first animal detected were further advanced in disease than the others of the 

 same lot ? 



Dean of Guild Mackenzie said that both the veterinary surgeon and the 

 superintendent of the slaughter-house said that that animal was the furthest gone 

 with disease. He asked the veterinary surgeon whether, in his opinion, it was 



