Present State of the Cattle Plague. 503 



frauds were thereby prevented. This brings me to the next jwint, 

 namely, checks against fraud. Publicity is, in my judgment, every- 

 thing, the very soul of justice. Then there should be weekly accounts, 

 and in healthy districts by all means let them have a previous inventory 

 of the cattle ; thus there would be no disputes as to value afterwards. 

 I believe that if we had done that in the first instance we should have 

 saved ourselves a great deal of trouble. I have seen a doctrine set 

 forth, that the interest of the ratepayer, because he pays rates, is 

 greater than that of the veterinary inspector. Now, I hold, that 

 in emergencies we should place confidence in responsible persons 

 who are devoted to their duties, and as the inspector is liable to 

 dismissal if he does not properly discharge his duty, that he has 

 a greater pecuniary interest than any ratej)ayer, because where the 

 ratepayer pays 1/. of rates the inspector receives perhaps 507. or lOOZ. 

 of salary. In this country it is true policy to have the best men you 

 can get as inspectors, and to educate them well for the discharge 

 of their duties, for their services will be required for some time 

 at least, and if you want a man to respect himself, and do his duty, 

 you must first show him respect. 



Disinfection. 



A very important matter comes next for our consideration, and 

 that is the subject of disinfection. I think we are greatly indebted 

 to the Commission for the exceedingly useful suggestions they have 

 published on this head. We should remember that a very little 

 leaven leaveneth a great mass, and that the disinfection of premises is 

 a diflicult matter, requiring some special knowledge. Previous to our 

 meeting to-day I ventured to say something to our friends here about 

 carbolic acid : but I was informed that there was nothing to be said 

 about disinfectants, for there is only one, namely, chloride of lime. 

 I am sure, however, that gi-eat good might be done by the use of 

 carbolic, and I would suggest that it should be kept in the different 

 police-stations, as has been done in the North-Eiding of Yorkshire, 

 since the smaller occujners will not get it for themselves. 



The country is very much indebted to Mr. Crookes, F.E.S., for his 

 investigations, which are confirmed by the experience of Poland, as to 

 the danger to be apprehended from hides and skins, which should be 

 viewed with as much suspicion as live-stock themselves. This danger 

 from hides and skins weighs heavily upon particular classes, and Mr. 

 Crookes would do good and patriotic service if he would point out how 

 hides and skins may be made safe, and at the same time fit for the 

 processes of tanning. 



I pass on now to notice the movement of stock in connection with 

 fairs and markets. In the third year of the great plague the disease 

 spread from the London market, and throughout that period it was 

 always retiu'niug and breaking out again in places where it had been 

 before. But no doiibt there must be for breeding and market purposes 

 and for the stocking of farms some regulated movement of live-stock. 

 The county-rate is the next point, relative to which all I have to say 

 is, that during the great plague a precedent was established for the 



