Opinions on Epidemics and Epizootics. 291 



condition the ultra- contagionist doctors would bring us back, and 

 if they are the cause of a dangerous epidemic terror, why, on 

 their own theory, should they not be debarred from all inter- 

 course with their fellow men ? 



Theories of epidemics affect the whole life of a nation, and 

 hence it is of the highest importance to know whether they 

 are right or wrong. In dealing, or attempting to d.eal, with 

 the cattle disorder the Privy Council most seriously affects 

 great interests, as well as infringes private liberty in a way 

 that can only be excused by an amount of proof of the 

 accuracy of their ideas which certainly does not at present 

 exist. They have thrown the foreign cattle trade into 

 deplorable confusion, and they are obstructing the home trade 

 in a very serious way. We copy the following statistics of the 

 cattle trade from the Morning Star : — 



" The increase in each class of beasts imported is large and 

 constantly progressive. For the months ended 31st August, 

 1863, 1884, and 1865, respectively, the numbers of oxen, bulls, 

 and cows imported were 14,279, 18,261, and 27,207 ; of calves, 

 6,726, 5,477, and 8,078; of sheep and lambs, 66,610, 67,360, 

 and 105,365; of swine and hogs, 4,132, 11,021, and 15,137. 

 For the eight months ended 31st August, 1863, 1864, and 1865, 

 respectively, the numbers imported were, of oxen, bulls, and 

 cows, 45,361, 82,447, and 119, 323 ; of calves, 21,883, 29,373, 

 and 35,553 ; of sheep and lambs, 214,950, 256,694, and 

 427,439 ; of swine and hogs, 6,679, 37,630, and 64,559. Mr. 

 Henley's 'drop' he stated at about 138,000 head of cattle 

 imported, but according to the present rate of importation the 

 figures should have been about 160,000 head of oxen, bulls, 

 and cows ; and if the other descriptions of live stock be taken 

 into account, the number of heads imported will amount at the 

 present rate to above 860,000 head per annum/' 



Such a trade as this is a most serious matter in reference 

 to the difficult question of feeding an enormous population, and 

 when in addition to the injury done to the foreign trade we 

 read of cattle fairs being stopped, and learn that arrangements 

 for breeding fresh stock are interrupted to a great extent by 

 Privy Council legislation, it is time to inquire very seriously 

 whether Government intervention is not likely to prove much 

 more mischievous than the disease it is intended to stop. If 

 State meddling raises the price of meat two or three pence in 

 the pound, it will indirectly kill multitudes of human beings, 

 and the survivors may at last have the consolation of learning 

 that the notions of the doctors were founded in mistake. 



