168 ORAL ARGUMENT OF SIR RICHARD WEBSTER, Q. C. M. P. 



Sir EiCHARD Webster. — Of course, if it is due to similar cfiiises. 

 I do iiotkuow, Mr. President, whether you Lave studied tiie subject of 

 epidemics. It is perfectly well known that epidemics will come back 

 to the same place and the same house. 1 speak of smallpox particu- 

 larly, which I have had to study very closely. It is well-known that 

 after an interval of 10 years the epidemic will come back to the same 

 place though there is no apparent reason for it, and though every 

 measure was taken to prevent its coming back to that place. It may 

 be due to atmosphere, it may be due to the damp or something else of 

 that kind. All I point out is this that two rookeries are picked out by 

 death in 1891, and the same two rookeries are picked out in 1892. 



The President. — I beg to observe that when mortality befalls young 

 animals in general the most common feature is disease in the bowels, 

 and then of course excreta increases and is observable. I am rather 

 struck by the circumstance, which is not admitted on the other side, 

 that there are no excreta to be found on the island at all. 



Sir KiCHARD Webster. — On the rookeries. 



The President. — Yes; on the rookeries. Well, I suppose the young 

 ones, the pups, must have excreta and especially in times of disease. 



Sir EiCHARD Webster. — It is not of the same character as that of 

 the grown up animals. It naturally would not be the same kind, as 

 they have been living only upon milk. I again point out to you, Sir, 

 with great deference — I am only agreeing with what you say — that of 

 course we know very little indeed about the diseases of seals. Indeed 

 I do not know that we know anything about them. 



Lord Hannen. — You refer to your knowledge of animals. I think I 

 am right in supposing that you have knowledge of the grouse. How is 

 it as to disease of the grouse? 



Sir Richard Webster. — It comes back, to the very same places. 



Lord Hannen. — I wanted to know, as far as you could tell. And it 

 is local ? 



Sir EiCHARD Webster. — Local in the most extraordinary way, par- 

 ticularly on the moors in Scotland. Side by side one moor will have no 

 disease upon it and the other will be visited at every periodic occurrence 

 of the disease. 



As far as I know, Mr. President — I wish to give the Tribunal infor- 

 mation — I believe it is impossible to predict beforehand until the thing 

 has been really examined what is the cause that brings back disease to 

 particular places; but my task today is to show that in this particular 

 respect the argument of the United States is not supported by the facts 

 which are brought before the Tribunal. 



Senator Morgan. — Has anybody said that these seals have diseases of 

 any kind? 



Sir Richard Webster. — No; but I do not think anybody will say 

 they are free from disease. I know no fish even that is free from disease. 



Senator Morgan. — I supposed some of these experts or dissectors 

 would have observed the disease. 



Sir Richard Webster. — If they knew anything about it; but I do 

 not think they suggest themselves that they do know very much about 

 it. We have it, of course, in some cases the bodies are emaciated and 

 in others we have it stated distinctly that they were not. They were 

 apparently in ordinary condition of health. That is spoken of ijy Mr. 

 Macoun. The Tribunal will, I hope, not put a greater burden upon me 

 than I can bear. I am not here to discuss the matter from a scientific 

 point of view. I am here in order that the Tribunal may not be misled 

 by inferences incorrectly drawn and by allegations as to facts not 

 justified by the Evidence before the Couit. 



