Report on Sleppe JSIurraiii or Rinderpest. 207 



range of their jurisdiction." Pleuro-pneumonia has prevailed 

 rather in a sporadic than an epizootic form for the last two years ; 

 and an equal number of cases are said to have occurred in places 

 where the feeding and general management of the animals are 

 unexceptionable, as in those where the opposite state of things 

 obtains, but that, under the latter named circumstances, the 

 disease has assumed a more fatal character. All animals which 

 are supposed to be affected by this disease have to be reported 

 by the proprietors, and if, on examination by the govern- 

 mental veterinary-surgeon, they are found to be the subjects of 

 it, an order is given for them to be killed. The skin, horns, 

 and other integumental parts are used, but the flesh is buried 

 as a rule, in accordance with the regulation of the Govern- 

 ment, who pay a proportionate amount of the value of the 

 animal, generally to the extent of one-third. It appears, how- 

 ever, that this regulation is sometimes evaded, and that the 

 carcases of such animals occasionally find their way into the 

 meat-market ; but no instance of injury done to persons eating 

 such flesh is known to have occurred. Many animals also are 

 not officially reported, as the proprietor either sells them for 

 slaughtering or has them killed unknown to the authorities. 

 Should this, however, become known, the animal is seized and 

 disposed of as the Government sees fit, and a fine is also inflicted 

 on the offender. Upon the whole, the laws of the sanitary 

 police are so strictly enforced, that, in the event of the rinderpest 

 extending into Belgium, it seems scarcely possible for animals 

 which had even been exposed to its infection to be exported from 

 the country. 



At Antwerp, we ascertained that the chief exports of animals 

 to England from thence are calves, and that the major part of 

 the cows and oxen which are fatted for the market are sent into 

 France, where at this time a better price is obtained for them 

 than in England. The calves are purchased of the farmers in 

 different parts of Belgium by commissioned agents, who collect 

 them together for shipment from Antwerp, but some of the oxen 

 come direct from Holland. The proportionate amount of oxen to 

 calves which are exported, is shown by a Return furnished by 

 MM. Vandenbergh for the year 1856. The MM. Vandenbergh 

 are the largest shippers of cattle to England, and although a few 

 animals are sent over by other companies, they are in about the 

 same proportion. The Return shows that 2020 calves were for- 

 warded here Avithin the year, but only 10 oxen. 



Holland. 



As this country sends our principal supply of foreign cattle 

 and sheep, it became the more important to ascertain their 



