18 PKOCEEDINGS AT BOAED MEETINGS. 



Office-bearers and Directors for 1888. 

 The report by the Committee on Office-Bearers and Directors for 1888 was read 

 and approved ; and the Secretary was instructed to communicate with the noblemen 

 and gentlemen suggested to fill the vacancies which occur in January next before 

 publishing their names. 



Chemical Department. 

 The report by the Committee in charge of the Chemical Dejiartment, containing 

 the list of analyses in which discrepancies occurred, was read and agreed to. 



Pleuro-Pneumonl\. 



Mr F. N. Menzies reported that, according to previous arrangement, the deputation 

 appointed at the Board meeting on the 2nd of November, viz., Mr Stirling of 

 Kippendavie ; Mr Paterson of Birthwood ; Mr Marr, Cairnbrogie; and himself, waited 

 on Viscount Cranbrook and Lord John Manners at the Pri\'y Council Office on 

 Friday, 18th November, to lay before then- Lordshijis representations on the subject 

 of pleuro-pneumonia. There were also present Mr C. Lennox Peel, C.B., clerk of 

 the Council, and Professor Brown, of the Agricultural I)ei)artment. The deputation 

 submitted — First, a memorial requesting the Government to compel local authorities 

 to slaughter, during the approaching winter months, all animals affected with 

 pleuro-pneumonia, and also all cattle that had been in contact with them, and to 

 use their influence to have the same policy carried out in Ireland ; and, secondly, the 

 resolution passed at the Board meeting on the 2nd November, to the effect that a 

 thorough investigation should be instituted into the nature of pleuro-pneumonia, 

 and requesting the Government either to undertake such an investigation or to 

 provide a sum to enable the Society to do so. Mr Stirling, Mr Marr, and Mr Paterson 

 having supported the views of the Society, and Professor Brown having stated the 

 present position of matters. Lord Cranbrook promised that the Government would 

 take into consideration the representations made, and would see whether anything 

 further could be done by the Privy Council on the subject of pleuro-pneumonia. 

 "With regard to the other matter, the first step would be to explain to the Irish 

 Government the remarks which have been made of the condition of things in 

 Scotland, and see whether any security against the importation of unsound cattle 

 into Scotland, as well as into England, could be obtained from them. Care would be 

 taken that an answer in writing is sent as soon as possible after it had been carefully 

 considered. 



The Secretary was instructed to prepare a digest of the evidence taken before the 

 committee, to be submitted to the Committee on Pleuro-Pneumonia previous to 

 being forwarded to the Privy Council. 



On the motion of Mr Pateeson of Birthwood, a vote of thanks was accorded to Dr 

 Aitken for his services in connection with the work of the committee, and the great 

 ability he displayed in examining the witnesses. 



A letter was read from the Clerk of Supply, Nairn, sending copy of one addressed 

 by him to the Privy Council on making compulsory the slaughter of cattle in contact 

 with animals affected with pleuro-pneumonia. 



A letter was read from Mr AVestley Richards, Ajshwell, Oakham, Rutland, on 

 infected areas under the Cattle Disease Act ; and suggesting that the Privy Council 

 should take the responsibility, and make regulations the same all over the kingdom, 

 instead of letting each county or burgh make its own. Instead of making a county 

 an infected area, the infected area shoidd be a district of a certain number of miles 

 round the seat of the disease. __^ 



"Weighing of Cattle. T^ITB 



In his letter, Mr AVestley Richards, in writing on the best kind of weight for the 

 new machines that are to be put up in the cattle markets to indicate, states that he 

 thinks for the weighing of cattle the imjierial stone and lbs. will be best. Tons, 

 cwts., quarters, and lbs. are not so well suited for cattle. It is very important, as 

 far as possible, to get the new machines to record the same weights, and in his 

 opinion the imperial stone (of 14 lbs. ) will be the best. Mr Richards states that Sir 

 John Lawee, who has given the subject a good deal of consideration, is also of the 

 same opinion, as also are Messrs Swan, Edinburgh. As to the size of the machines, Mr 

 Richaids states that it is advisable that they should not be too small. Many of the 

 corporations in England are putting up machines only large enough to weigh one 

 beast at a time. This he considers quite useless for weighing store stock, as no 

 business could be got through. The small markets should be pro\'ided with 

 machines large enough to hold five beasts at a time, and the larger markets ten 

 beasts ; a platform 12 feet by 7 feet is a very good size. The small machines that 

 are being ordered will not comply with the Act, which says, "sufiicient and proper 



