512 Abstract Report of Agricultural Discussions. 



when applied, as must be the case, in a highly-diluted form to a 

 large heap of farm-yard manure, it was very questionable whether 

 it would destroy the cattle-poison, and whether, indeed, it would 

 not rather tend to preserve it. He believed that a solution of car- 

 bolic acid of proper strength might be most usefully employed for 

 destroying the poison in hides, and, at the same time, preserving 

 the skin, so that it would not be imfit for the j)urposes of the 

 tanner. The preserving qualities of carbolic acid were remarkably 

 great. 



Mr. Feere wished to ask Professor Coleman what was the strength 

 of the carbolic acid recommended as a wash for adult sheep ? 



Professor Coleman : One part in sixty of crude carbolic mixed with 

 soft-soap. 



Mr. Frere said he had used carbolic acid to dip live animals in ; 

 and from his experience, he believed that for the purpose of disinfec- 

 tion the mixture ought to be still stronger than that recommended 

 by Professor Voelcker, viz., one in fifty. He sj)oke from his experi- 

 ence of its use as a dip for sheep, used to destroy the insects upon 

 them and their eggs. 



Professor Coleman : For insects, you want it stronger. They are 

 difficult to destroy ; and for them, no doubt, you require one in 

 forty. 



The Eev. Prebendary Brereton thought that the time had come 

 when the Royal Agricultm-al Society might, through some special 

 agency, impress on the owners of cattle the importance of the measures 

 which they were urging on the Government. He could corroborate 

 some of the statements just made as to the manner in which the 

 present Act was being carried out. Being on the coast of Norfolk 

 recently, he heard of a cargo being sent up from Lynn. He knew 

 some of the villages from which they came, and in one of those 

 villages a case of cattle plague had actually just broken out. A 

 notion was entertained that animals might be cured by the adminis- 

 tration of chloroform. Attempts to eifect such cures had been made, 

 but had failed. Moreover, the delay in bmying them after they were 

 killed was so great that in one case, where three labouring men were 

 engaged in the work of bmial, the stench arising from their clothes 

 was described as awful. Here, then, they had the first case of a 

 disease breaking out in that neighbourhood ; and the cattle were 

 driven twelve or fom-teen miles by road, to be exj)orted from Lynn, 

 and sent to the London market. If there were any merit at all 

 in the present legislation, he thought they had a strong case there, 

 but it had gone for nothing. He lived in North Devon, where the 

 disease was approaching. The farmers in his neighbom-hood had 

 shown a lively apprehension of the danger, and a desire to do every- 

 thing that was proper in the matter, and he felt sure that they would 

 appreciate any specific information coming from a central authority and 

 guiding them as to what steps they ought to take ; but he regretted to 

 say that he was not aware of there being such a close commimication 

 between that Society and the general body of agriculturists in the 

 kingdom as one would wish to see. He hoped the Council of the 



