24 The Cattle Plague. [Jan., 
be ascribed to the incorrectness of the theory; and although it 
may never be submitted to accurate calculations, from the ea 
of disturbing causes, yet it may be brought to a near approac 
to truth. 
Much has been done of late years by the intrepid and merito- 
rious Mr. Glaisher in his ascents in a balloon, which have thrown 
much light on this subject; but it is much to be desired that some 
learned society would pay attention to this problem, and resolve it 
through direct and frequent observations; by establishing on the 
Peak a set of observations throughout the year: although it is 
covered with snow every year for the space of six or eight months, 
yet the cold is nothing to compare with that of the polar regions. 
By means of a balloon, the experiment could occasionally be 
made, and with it the numerous local variations, now to be feared, 
would be entirely obviated. 
Ii. THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
Ir is but a short history and description that can be placed on 
record here of the epizootic disease which has latterly decimated the 
herds of many of the Eastern Counties ; for nothing has yet been 
discovered or devised capable of effecting the cure of this deadly 
disorder. The few instances in which cures have been alleged are 
given on doubtful authority, and the general experience hitherto 
has been that the percentage of recovery is as large in the cases of 
cattle receiving no special treatment whatever as in that of animals 
in the hands of the energetic medical man. We can thus do little 
more than relate the history and nature of the attack and of the 
measures, hitherto unavailing, which have been taken to meet it. 
The disease was first noticed shortly after Midsummer in the north 
London cowhouses. The first animals that died were English 
cows which had been purchased at the Metropolitan Cattle Market. 
Three weeks before this purchase part of a cargo of Russian 
cattle landed at Hull—the first, it is said, that had been im- 
ported direct from Russia into this country—had been sold in the 
same market. Russia is the home of the rinderpest, and although 
the particular province from which these animals were imported 
has been declared entirely free from the disease in question, and 
notwithstanding the very long interval between their shipment 
at Revel and the outbreak on June 27th in the Islington cow- 
house, and the fact that no mischief has been traced from the 
remainder of the cargo which left Hull for the Western Counties 
—it is declared and believed that to these Russian cattle we are 
to attribute the calamity which has befallen our stock owners, and 
