278 EPITOME OF EVIDENCE ON PLEURO-PNEUMONIA. 



]5lace where an infected animal has been is infected itself. 

 I do not believe in what is called an "infected area" round 

 the seat of the disease. If I had the power, I would not allow 

 any one to make an infected area; I would only have an 

 " infected place." Suppose there are two byres together open 

 at the ends, I would consider both buildings as one and 

 infected. I wish it to be understood that infection is not 

 carried out of the byre to any distance, and I do not think it is 

 easy to carry it out except by taking the animal out. From 

 my experience, pleuro-pneumonia is not carried about, except 

 by the animal. To extend the circle of infection to any great 

 distance is doing no good. In a city it is different from the 

 country in making an infected area. If you make half-a- 

 mile or a mile, you take in a whole town. I think you would 

 require to confine it to 100 yards. A result of the " infected 

 area" is that the county of Lanark has been shut up for 

 months and months, causing no end of inconvenience and 

 loss of money, and I really do not believe it has done any 

 good. There is no known means to cut short an attack of 

 pleuro-pneumonia ; it must run its course. Smallpox is similar 

 to this disease in that it must run its specific course. If a few 

 thousands of pounds were set apart for it, a great deal could be 

 made out experimentally which is at present a matter of opinion 

 and dispute. Another thing to see is, whether lymph could be 

 cultivated so as to make it a safe operation, if we could have a 

 quantity in a capillary tube. If that could be done there would 

 be no difficulty in getting rid of the disease by inoculating the 

 calves. If Parliament would vote a sum of money for a series 

 of experiments it would be of great importance. I think it 

 would be a very advisable thing for the Society to institute an 

 inquiry, if you could get the Government to give a sum of 

 money towards it. I have no doubt the magistrates of Glasgow 

 would be willing to subscribe a sum of money. They are deeply 

 interested in the subject, and so is every ratepayer. 



Mr Robert Reid, M.R.C.V.S., Inspector ruider the Cattle 

 Diseases Act, and Superintendent of Slaughter Houses, 

 Leith, called in, and examined. 



My experience of pleuro-pneumonia has lasted since 1864. 

 That is my actual experience as an inspector. The ordinary 

 percentage of deaths from pleuro-pneumonia during that time, 

 before you had inoculation, was about 14 2Jer cent. I 

 began to inoculate between 1877 and 1878. I have not inocu- 

 lated any myself. I had inoculation performed under my 

 observation ; I had four veterinary surgeons inoculating. The 

 number of cases I have had during the present year of pleuro- 



