SECRETARY'S REPORT. 71 



forbade the introduction of any cattle from any place where 

 there was the least possibility of getting the disease. They also 

 forbade the introduction of hides, which might introduce the 

 diseasq, or any other articles which might do it. So they have 

 prevented the disease from reaching France, so as to spread to 

 any extent, though they have some of it in Belgium. 



Congress has passed an Act to prevent the introduction of the 

 disease into this country, though I do not think it improbable 

 that we shall have it, sooner or later. 



After some time the English government established a com- 

 mission, composed of the Earl of Spencer, Dr. Lyon Playfair, 

 Dr. Bonce Jones, and other scientific and practical gentlemen. 

 They made a report on the 31st of October, a little more than a 

 month after their appointment, having summoned a great num- 

 ber of witnesses, cattle-dealers, <fec., and they say in their report 

 that the disease is the genuine cattle plague of Europe, from the 

 steppes of Russia, and what the Germans call the rinderpest. 

 They think there is no doubt that it was introduced by imported 

 cattle. England imports about a thousand head of cattle every 

 day, principally into the London market. These cattle are 

 picked up on the continent, some coming through Hamburg, 

 some from Russia and other points on the Black and Baltic 

 Seas. 



That commission, after investigating the matter, considered 

 the disease as incurable as it is contagious, and that it was even 

 carried in the clothes of people who took care of the cattle. So 

 sheep, that had been with a herd that had the plague, could 

 carry the plague to other herds cif neat cattle. It is not estab- 

 lished certainly that the pleuro-pneumonia can be carried in 

 that way, but it is probable. 



The commission, as I have said, came to the conclusion that 

 the cattle plague is absolutely incurable, no remedies having 

 had any effect. They could only recommend its prevention, 

 therefore. They went so far as to recommend to the govern- 

 ment to prohibit, absolutely, the moving of cattle from one 

 market to another. You can readily judge what an effect that 

 would have on the cattle interest in that country. Though the 

 government has not yet resorted to that, they may have to do it, 

 or endure a dozen or fifteen years of the cattle plague. I hope 

 such a course will be taken as to prevent the mtroduction of the 



