2G4 EPITOME OF EVIDENCE ON PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 



recently killed case of plciiro-pneumonia, and that you would be 

 in much more certain circumstances if you depended on virus 

 of your own cultivation. That is what is wanted — if we could 

 have a pure virus. I do not think it necessary, in order to 

 succeed in inoculation, to have some kind of irritation pro- 

 duced, such as a seton produces. The cause of the severe 

 exudation going up the back, and causing death, is constitu- 

 tional on the part of the cattle. It is a mistake to shut all 

 the ventilators in a byre. We give them plenty of ventilation. 

 I am of opinion that, generally speaking, I will not say in 

 every case, the animal contracts pleuro-pneumonia from 

 another. I have great doubt whether it will be made out 

 eventually that objects and things contain the infection for a 

 length of time. It is shown by the fact as to men going about 

 and what I have seen otherwise. I am of opinion that it would 

 be beneficial for the country were the Society to take up an 

 investigation on the inoculation line. I do not think that the 

 inoculation so modifies the character of the pleuro-pneumonia 

 in the lung as to make it innocuous to other animals. It might 

 break out three months after. It is these cattle that spread 

 the disease. I find that these cases generally show bad symp- 

 toms. After inoculation they are generally dead in three weeks. 

 I consider it a good point of the system that it rapidly 

 brings forward the disease ; and the weak point is when it 

 does not take on. We want, as an experiment, to introduce 

 inoculated cattle into fresh herds. It would be a great experi- 

 ment. Putting the defects of the inoculating system against 

 its beneficial effects, I am strongly in favour of inoculating. It 

 is undoubtedly a good thing for the individual. But whether 

 it is for the nation at large is a thing that must be found out 

 by experiment — that is, by the introduction of inoculated cattle 

 into healthy herds. The experiments carried on in foreign 

 countries were badly done. In fact, they did not know how 

 to do it. If you carefully read the reports you will find that 

 out. There is bad lymph, bad results, and it is badly performed. 

 I have not discovered the micrococcus in anything except in the 

 lymph. I think that the country should take the question up 

 by bringing a lot of inoculated cattle, and introducmg them 

 into healthy herds ; that is the crucial point. It has been my 

 opinion all along that somethiug should be done. It would not 

 cost anything like the money spent in Lanarkshire. If by intro- 

 ducing inoculated cattle you had pleuro-pneumonia, then we 

 must go on with the stamping-out process ; but, certainly, it is 

 well worth trying the experiment. It should be carefully con- 

 ducted. In many places it could be done where there would be 

 no fear of carrying the contamination. I think all local autho- 

 rities should be abolished. The veterinary inspector of the 



