132 The Cattle Plague and Scientific Investigation. 



be able to judge of the real extent of the danger and the best 

 mode of averting it. It would be well if the Government 

 " improved" this occasion by making better preparations for the 

 future. There should be a constant collection and classifica- 

 tion of what Bentham called f 'preappointed evidence/' that 

 is, evidence ready to assist inquiries likely to be made and 

 worth making. The sifting and verification of evidence of this 

 class is a difficult task. The medical man must be relied upon 

 for the detection and naming of the disease, but as soon as he 

 begins to form a theory of the mode of its introduction or 

 propagation, he cannot lay claim to any special authority, as 

 there is nothing in his education or habits that peculiarly fits 

 him for rigid logical inquiry. The highest class of scientific 

 men — medical included — are able and cautious reasoners — 

 more given to wholesome doubts and processes of verification 

 than ordinary persons. Such men are necessarily rare ; but 

 when the occasion is sufficiently important, it is in the power 

 of the State to secure their aid. 



If the cattle disease lasts till Parliament assembles, pro- 

 posals for investing the Government with fresh powers will be 

 sure to be made. It is natural that in a matter of so much 

 moment and difficulty the intervention of the State should be 

 invoked ; but it will be incumbent upon the Legislature to sift 

 the evidence that may be adduced in the most cautious way. 

 By collecting accurate information, and spreading it, the 

 Grovernment may be sure to do good ; but if it relies too much 

 upon measures differing materially from those of general 

 sanitary precaution, it may do much harm. Mr. Arthur Helps, 

 the Secretary to the Privy Council, states that ' c it does not 

 appear that in countries where the G-overnment possesses the 

 amplest powers for dealing with cases of this kind, and where 

 they have exercised those powers with great vigour, any signal 

 success has attended their measures.'" This is a very important 

 statement, and the evidence upon which it is made should be 

 most carefully weighed. That it is correct, we think most 

 probable; but if so, much of the ground for State intervention 

 is cut away. 



The most safe course for the Government is to be very 

 moderate in restrictive enactments, and to rely chiefly upon its 

 power of usefully influencing opinion, by collecting the best 

 information, and subjecting it to the scrutiny of the ablest men. 



We have now a well-educated body of veterinary surgeons, 

 upon whom considerable reliance may be placed; but, to 

 utilize their labours, they must be treated in a scientific man- 

 ner, and great pains taken to discriminate between their bond 

 fide observations of fact and the habit they possess, in common 

 with other mortals, of mixing hypothesis with the record of 



