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severity its goverament is condemned for its inefficient measures, and more 

 lamely enforced than inefficient. But tlie foregoing extracts exhibit tbe ways 

 in wliicli cliolera, typhoid fevers, and the cattle plague are propagated. The 

 human diseases may not be as virulent as the last one, but their modes of dis- 

 semination are the same, and therefore demand like means against their spreading. 

 It is our purpose to consider these hereafter. Our best protection, our point 

 of strongest defence, is against their introduction, and therefore it is that we 

 here notice the necessity of protection by government. 



THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT. 



Whoever will pause but for a moment's reflection will see that against the 

 introduction of diseases so fatal as cholera and the cattle plague, the govern, 

 ment owes a duty of fhe most weighty character to every citizen. If energetic 

 measures at New York have prevented the spread of the cholera when brought 

 there last fall, how studiously should have been the minds of our national and State 

 legislators and executive officers turned to perfecting these measures and 

 extending them, that the country might be more effectually guarded when the 

 warm weather of spring and the increased emigration will add so largely to the 

 danger of the introduction of the disease. Xo trade in cattle or their products 

 should have been permitted with the British North American provinces, but 

 upon the condition that the most stringent regulations should have been adopted" 

 and enforced against the introduction of the cattle plague in those provinces- 

 How little has yet been done to protect the people against either disease 1 We 

 seem to be content with the half-way measures of Great Britian in its treatment 

 of the cattle plague. Its non-effective action has spread this disease into nearly 

 every part of England and Scotland, and not unjustly does that able paper, the 

 Mark Lane Express, thus speak to it : 



" If the English government is not responsible for, at any rate, all the rav- 

 ages of the plague during the last few weeks, we will bid farewell to all law and 

 logic. Does the government pretend to throw upon anybody else's shoulders 

 the duty of combating the disease ] If the government owns that such was its 

 duty, what excuse can it offer for not having performed this, and spared us the 

 greatest national calamity of our generation? Did it not know what to do? 

 Why, the French veterinarians came over long ago, and so reported upon the 

 nature and course of the disease in our country that the French government 

 acted at once, and successfully held the plague out of its empire. Our govern- 

 ment 'didn't know,' and yet the French government had already examined 

 into the whole affair as it existed in England, and thereupon did all that was 

 required for the safety of French cattle as long since as September. Does our 

 government suppose that, though it must have known what to do, it will be 

 excused because the public generally would not have approved the only efScient 

 measures ? If it is not one duty of rulers to take the initiative to ascertain what 

 steps are requisite in great and sudden emergencies, and then to inform its 

 people and thus create an enlightened opinion on the matter, it is about time 

 to give up theories of government, to expect nothing wise, nothing virtuous, 

 nothing progressive from statesmen, but merely to look for this result, that 

 they shall move when they are pushed, and stop when the popular pressure 

 relaxes. 



" The most wonderful thing just now is to see stock owners losing their 



