Report on Steppe Murrain or Rindeipest. 209 



sufficiently remunerative just now by the Dutch feeders, and 

 hence the diminished numbers sent here. When the contrary 

 state of things prevailed, many animals were purchased in Prussia 

 by the dealers and forwarded to the different ports of Holland 

 for exportation, and not a few, it is said, came even from Switzer- 

 land down the Rhine for the same purpose. These facts show that 

 it is possible for a disease of a malignant kind, which is incubated, 

 in the system of an animal for ten days or a fortnight, to be 

 introduced into England from other countries via Holland. The 

 continuance of a well-ordered and rigid system of inspection 

 of imported animals on our part will, however, do much to 

 protect VIS, and that not merely by its leading to the detec- 

 tion of diseased animals on their arrival, but by the effect Avhich 

 it will have upon the export trade of foreign countries. Proof 

 of this is given by the circumstance that last year, when it 

 became known that our Customs inspectors had received orders 

 to be particularly strict in the examinations of cattle, the General 

 Steam Navigation Company of Rotterdam, unwilling to take the 

 responsibility of the probable rejection of animals committed to 

 their care, appointed a veterinary surgeon to examine them when 

 put on board their boats. This company brings by far the 

 largest proportion of cattle to England, and although this pre- 

 cautionary measure was not adopted by other shipping com- 

 panies, they nevertheless declared their intention of having re- 

 course to it, and only refrained from so doing, because of the great 

 diminution which took place in the number of the animals which 

 were shipped. The system of examination was kept in force 

 for about three months, when from the same cause the General 

 Steam Navigation Company also discontinued it. The returns of 

 these examinations, together with the results, were regularly 

 transmitted to the British consul. Should the prices again rise 

 in England to an extent which would, in the opinion of the cattle- 

 feeders, justify them in sending us more animals, then there cannot 

 be a doubt of the re-establishment of this system of inspection. 



No duty is chargeable on animals imported into Holland, 

 but an export one has to be paid, which amounts in English 

 money to about the following rate per head, namely, oxen, 10c?., 

 calves 2(Z., sheep '2d., lambs \d., and pigs \d., with an additional 

 duty of thirteen />er cent, on the gross sum. 



Although Holland rears immense numbers of cattle, she, from 

 her great export trade in these animals, becomes an importing 

 country for hides, receiving her chief supply of these from Java 

 and Buenos Ayres, with some from England, but none froin 

 Russia, so that all fear of our introduction of contagious diseases 

 through the means of skins may cease, in so far as Holland is 

 concerned. 



