16 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



diseased meat ; another where several hundred soldiers were in 

 a similar condition ; and another where seventy person fed on 

 the flesh of cattle diseased with plenro-pneumonia. They were 

 " seized occasionally with vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pains, 

 &c., and have traced such accidents to the meat to such an 

 extent that many refused to eat it. Circumstances compel me 

 to withhold farther details." * 



What a record do these extracts contain ! Can 'any one 

 after reading them, — and innumerable others of a similar 

 import might be added, — avoid the conclusion that anything 

 which may be said or done that shall have the effect to retard 

 prompt and energetic action for the removal of this great curse, 

 now that we have it in our power, is a monstrous play upon 

 human life ? 



I could give innumerable details to show the similar condition 

 of France, and, in fact, of nearly every country of Western 

 Europe, were it desirable. 



But to return. If we have determined to give up all effort 

 to eradicate the disease, as the course of the last legislature 

 would seem to imjjly, we should, at least, take some action to 

 protect ourselves from the sale of the products of diseased 

 animals thrown upon our markets in the shape of milk and 

 beef, which has already happened, and which is sure to 

 increase. 



The law, as it now exists, is quite inadequate for the protec- 

 tion of the community, as the experience of the past few 

 months has shown. The municipal jurisdiction of the officers 

 of towns is too limited to enable them to work efficiently, even 

 if they were, in all cases, fully prepared, with a requisite 



* Since the above was ■written, the following casa was reported in the 

 " Edinburgh Veterinary Review " for January, 1864. The remarks were 

 made by the magistrate at the London Central Court, to a prisoner con- 

 victed of the crime of selling diseased meat on the 16th of December, 1863: — 



" Mr. Commissioner Kerr, addressing the prisoner, told him he had been 

 convicted, after a patient hearing, of a most serious crime ; indeed, he did not 

 know of anything more serious. Death might result from the bad meat 

 partaken of, and if so, of course it was little short of murder. This kind of 

 thing was largely on the increase, and it was his duty to pass a very severe 

 sentence. * * * * The commissioner then sentenced him to be im- 

 prisoned for the space of twelve calendar months, at the expiration of which 

 time to pay a fine of £50, or to be imprisoned until such sum should be paid." 



