Value of 
inoculation, 
Q. 6624-27 
Q. 7074. 
Q. 8930. 
Result in 
Colonies. 
Q. 5465-67. 
Q. 6724-8, 
6771-5. 
America. 
Q. 4741-6. 
The Nether- 
lands, 
xii COMMITTEE ON PLEURO-PNEUMONIA AND TUBERCULOSIS : 
circumstances is as follows:—The animals which are diseased, or suspected of 
being diseased, are slaughtered, whilst the rest of the herd are subjected to 
inoculation. 
41. It is therefore impossible to determine what effect, if any, inoculation has 
had in suppressing such an outbreak in this country, inasmuch as, in a large majority 
of cases, we cannot be certain that after the slaughter had been carried out any 
diseased animals were left on the premises which would be likely to continue the 
disease. It might therefore be open to assumption that, even if inoculation had not 
been practised, the spreading of the disease would have been equally checked by 
the slaughter of the diseased or suspected animals. } 
~ 42. On the other hand, the advocates of inoculation not unfairly point out that, in 
cases where inoculation may be said to have failed, such a result might have been 
attributable to the inefficient manner in which the operation was performed. This is 
a further illustration of the uncertainty and doubt which we have found throughout the 
whole of the evidence regarding the practice of inoculation. i 
43. While we cannot deny that inoculation, in itself, is valuable, as a palliative — 
and preventive method of treatment, it is clear to our minds that its employment in 
this ‘country is impracticable, as with the present knowledge on this subject at the ae 
command of veterinary science, and under the recognised position of agriculture, 
it is impossible to employ this method under the only conditions that might render — 
its operation successful. These conditions include : Le ae 
' (a.) Performance of the operation by competent men, specially appointed for the Cte 
purpose in all parts of the United Kingdom ; 
(b.) Its employment universally and compulsorily upon all cattle above three as 
months old. 
Therefore, even if accompanied by other measures, it cannot be depended on asa’ iG 
efficient means of exterminating pleuro-pneumonia. wets 
44. Throughout our Australian, New Zealand, and South African Colonies 
inoculation has been practised on an extensive scale for a long period, but neither 
universally nor compulsorily, and has been proved incapable of extirpating pleuro- 
pneumonia. Most of the colonial witnesses, whom we examined at great length, were 
of opinion that, without inoculation, the disease would have spread more widely and 
more rapidly than it did, whilst some considered that it arrested the disease in their 
herds. it is plain that some importance is attached to inoculation in the colonies, 
from the fact that in many cases inoculated cattle command a higher price than — ot 
those on which the operation had not been performed. 
45. From the evidence of the colonial witnesses, however, it is quite certain that their oe : 
advocacy, and practice of inoculation is based upon, and limited to, the i 
circumstances of their respective countries, to which we have above referred ; for it will 
be seen, on a perusal of the evidence, that they universally admitted that, were the 
conditions of stock-owning in the colonies similar to those which prevail in England, — a 
with its small herds, greater power of detection and isolation, they would unhesi- 
tatingly adopt compulsory slaughter as the surest and most economical means of 
exterminating the disease. is 
46. It must be taken into account that in America the feeling against inoculation 
is so pronounced, that any animals, bearing the trace of the operation, are only 
admitted into the country under a quarantine which is practically prohibitive. _ 
47. Further evidence of the inadequacy of inoculation, as hitherto practised, to 
eradicate pleuro-pneumonia is furnished by the history of the disease in the Netherlands. — RN q 
In that country pleuro-pneumonia ‘has been known to exist since 1833 (it was, indeed, 
from thence that the disease was first brought to the United Kingdom in 1840), 
and from that period until 1885 it prevailed to an enormous extent, and the injury : 
it inflicted will be readily understood, when we remember that Holland possesses a 
larger head of stock per acre than any other country in the world. In the Report 
of the Agricultural Department of the Privy Council for 1885 will be found an qa 
interesting account of the progress and treatment of the disease in the Netherlands. 
48. We have, with your Lordship’s approval, and the sanction of Her Majesty’s 
Treasury, summoned before us M. Lameris, one of the Government veterinary | 
surgeons, residing at the Hague. In view of the fact that Holland is the only country _ 
in the world from which, after having obtained a good foothold, pleuro-pneumonia — 
has been eradicated, the evidence of this gentleman possesses considerable interest and 
importance. 
49. From the evidence of M. Lameris it appeared that for many years inoculation was 
practised by owners of cattle, and so impressed were they by the benefits which 
