210 Report on Steppe Murrain or Rinderpest. 



Our investigations led us to visit the cattle-feeders, and among 

 others we saw Mynheer A, Poot, who resides within a few miles 

 of Rotterdam. M. Poot ships upon an average 600 animals a 

 year. He informed us that no disease had prevailed in his sheds 

 since February last, prior to which time he had several cases ot 

 pleuro-pneumonia. He appeared to be an entire stranger to any 

 other contagious disease, and said that, in the event of an affec- 

 tion like Rinderpest breaking out among his stock, a cordon 

 would be immediately placed around the farm by the local 

 authorities, and that he should be compelled to slaughter the 

 diseased animals and bury them with their skins on in quick 

 lime. In his opinion it would be an impossibility to export any 

 portion of their carcases to England, even if attempts were 

 made to do so, in consequence of the strictness with which the 

 police sanitary regulations are carried out. He adduced as an 

 instance that on the first breaking out of pleuro-pneumonia in 

 1829, and before experience had shown that the flesh could be 

 safely used for food, he and others had to kill the affected cattle 

 and bury them entire, with a view to prevent injury being done 

 to the people, as well as to limit the spread of the malady. On 

 the question of our government ordering all imported animals 

 to be slaughtered on their arrival in the docks, and their carcases 

 sent to the meat market, M. Poot considered that such a step 

 would be tantamount to stopping of the importations entirely. 

 The boats very rarely, if indeed at any time, are freighted with 

 cattle all belonging to the same person ; the cargo therefore is 

 mostly comprised of animals tlie property of several individuals, 

 and identity of each particular animal, which is necessary for the 

 purposes of trade, could scarcely be made under such circum- 

 stances ; besides, he said, a necessity would be created for an im- 

 mediate sale of the meat to the injury of the interests of the 

 persons sending the animals. He was equally opposed to the 

 establishment of a quarantine, and was of opinion that it could 

 never be carried into practice, and England continue to receive 

 full supplies of foreign cattle. 



The system at present adopted is for various feeders to con- 

 sign their cattle to salesmen in the London market, who, as in the 

 home trade, charge a commission on the sales they effect. As 

 no animals are brought into Rotterdam coastways for reship- 

 ment, all consequently have to pass through the town to reach 

 the vessels, so that they are thus subjected to the general inspec- 

 tion of the local authorities, regulations existing to prevent 

 diseased animals from entering into this and the other towns of 

 Holland. Besides the security thus afforded it is clearly not in 

 accordance with the interests of the exporters to put diseased 

 cattle on board, as it is impossible for them to bear up against 



