ITS INTKODUCTION INTO ENGLAND. 2:i 



lities existing for, the importation of foreign cattle and 

 sheep, it was to be expected that contagious maladies 

 would be introduced which had been hitherto con- 

 fined to foreign climates. It behoves us to be silent 

 on the alteration of the tariff, for we may differ in opi- 

 nion, on this subject, from those who complain that 

 the late visitations of destructive diseases upon oin- 

 native breeds of cattle are the result of the importations 

 above referred to. Some persons look to ordinary 

 causes alone for the outbreak of an epizootic, and 

 therefore may regard ovine pox as having such an 

 origin. Now the fact is undoubted that many thousands 

 of foreign sheep have been im})orted, and disposed of 

 in Smithfield market, within the last few years, and, 

 until the time of the appearance of the disorder in 

 question, no complaint has ever been heard respecting 

 our introducing by such sheep a disease of any kind.* 

 This circumstance proves that confinement on board 

 of ship has not operated very prejudicially to the health 

 of these animals; nor has that cause produced the 

 existing pest, for common causes are not found to 

 produce specific maladies, as variolous affections must 

 undoubtedly be regarded. 



We have it from good authority, that the Marquis 

 of Salisbury possesses upwards of 2000 Merino sheep, 

 bought at various times, and not a single case of variola 

 ovina has yet been seen among them. Mr. Wm. Eve, 

 an extensive cattle salesman and occupier of land, has 

 bought several hundreds of foreign sheep from different 



* The official account of the importations of sheep and lambs into 

 England, from Jan. 1st to Nov. 27th, 1S47, gives the total nura])er 

 of 133, G18 ; out of which no less than 125,777 were disembarked at 

 London. 



