Report on Steppe Murrain or Rinderpest. - 211 



the fatigue of a sea voyage, or to be on their arrival here in a fit 

 state to pass the scrutiny of our Customs inspectors. 



The cattle which are fatted either for the Dutch markets or 

 for exportation are purchased at the different fairs and markets 

 in the country, and are for the most part reared in Friesland and 

 Guelderland, scarcely any being brought in from other countries. 

 Upon the whole, notwithstanding the dangers we have pointed 

 out, the system which prevails generally with regard to the cattle 

 trade, and the additional regulations which would be enforced 

 did necessity arise, appear to offer a fair amount of security 

 against the introduction of a new cattle pest from Holland. 



Westphalia and Hanover. 



These countries are entirely free from Rinderpest, and have 

 been so for upwards of forty years; besides which, very little 

 disease of any kind was found to be prevalent among the cattle. 

 The laws which are enforced with regard to contagious diseases 

 are analogous to those which are generally adopted upon the 

 Continent, but differ a little in some of their details. 



Pleuro-pneumonia was said by the late M. Hausmann, Professor 

 of the Veterinary School, to have been first observed in Hanover 

 as early as 1807. The disease has existed with some few intervals, 

 and with more or less severity, down to the present day. Of late 

 years the animals attacked have been so few as not to create any 

 great solicitude on the part of the government. Precautionary mea- 

 sures are, however, adopted on the frontier with regard to cattle 

 coming from Holland, which are made to undergo a quarantine, and 

 none are allowed to enter from Holstein, unless they are certified 

 to be in a state of perfect health. Veterinary surgeons are bound 

 to give notice of all cases of contagious disease which they may 

 meet with in their practice, and proprietors also are required to 

 report the appearance of pleuro-pneumonia or allied affections 

 among their cattle. No animal, although seemingly in perfect 

 health, if it has been living with others affected with pleuro- 

 pneumonia, can be pastured or driven on roads so as to come 

 within two hundred yards of other cattle ; nor can the owner 

 dispose of any of his herd, under such circumstances, until it is 

 certified by the veterinary surgeon of the department that all the 

 animals are perfectly free from the disease. The period of time 

 which is allowed to elapse after the passing away of the malady, 

 and the power of selling the cattle, is left to the discretion of the 

 veterinary surgeon. A proprietor can place his animals under 

 medical treatment if he sees fit, or he is at liberty to slaughter 

 them and send them to the meat-market. The flesh of those 

 affected with pleuro-pneumonia, even in its advanced stages, 



