1866.] nhs GED) 
CHRONICLES OF SCIENCE. 
‘TI. AGRICULTURE. 
Tue Cattle Plague—which at the beginning of the past quarter 
was rapidly declining, still however attacking several hundred fresh 
cases every week—has at length dwindled to very insignificant 
proportions ; and, excepting for its extreme infectiousness, it is no 
doubt of less account at present than many other fatal disorders to 
which the live stock of the farm are ordinarily liable. The returns 
for the weeks ending Sept. 1 and 8 recorded only 99 and 69 attacks 
respectively in all Great Britain. Upwards of a quarter of a million 
cases had occurred during the 52 preceding weeks, of which nearly 
one-half had died and one-third had been slaughtered, leaving, with 
a certain number unaccounted for, less than one-sixth as the pro- 
portion of recoveries. The third and final report of Her Majesty’s 
Commissioners was published in the month of June, and with the 
accompanying discussions of all the aspects and relations which the 
subject presents, it constitutes a perfectly exhaustive treatise on the 
disastrous experience of the past twelvemonth, which all stockowners 
should study. In particular, the question of disinfection, which it 
examines, possesses a permanent interest. This has been most 
elaborately investigated by Mr. Crookes and Dr. Angus Smith, whose 
researches are given in full detail. The following is the result of 
their inquiry as stated by the Commissioners :— 
“ Tt is evident that the poison ought to be destroyed at the very 
moment of evolution or discharge. The disinfectant must there- 
fore not only be both fixed and volatile, but so cheap and easily 
used as to be continually in action, and it must of course be 
innocuous to cattle and men. 
“A large number of substances which can be used in many 
other cases as disinfectants must be put aside, as not meeting these 
necessary conditions. Compounds of iron, zinc, lead, manganese, 
arsenic, sodium, lime, or charcoal powder, and many other sub- 
stances, want the volatile disinfecting power; iodine, bromine, 
nitrous acid, and some other bodies are too dear, or are entirely 
volatile, or are injurious to the cattle. 
“On, full consideration, it appears that the choice must lie 
between chlorine, ozone, sulphur, and the tar acids (carbolic and 
eresylic). Two of these bodies, wz. chlorine, in the shape of 
chloride of lime and the tar acids, have the great advantage of 
