204 
Report on the Trade in Animals. 
which the animals are driven on arrival, and where they remain 
until the time arrives for shipping them. As will be seen in the 
sequel, the lairs and fields used for such purposes by cattle- 
dealers are probably some of the most fruitful sources of con- 
tagion. 
II. The Irish Cattle Trade. 
Fairs and Markets. — The cattle-market in Dublin is really excel- 
lent, both in arrangement and mode of maintenance. It is divided 
into longitudinal sections by iron railings, each set of pens being 
accessible either from the main roadway or a side alley. Offices 
rented by the salesmen are attached to most of the sets of pens ; 
but of course the sets may vary in size according to circumstances. 
This was not only the cleanest and best arranged market that 
I saw in Ireland, but the only one that had any claim to the 
distinction of a market at all. I was informed that the Corpo- 
ration of Dublin employ an inspector to examine the beasts 
- exposed for sale in the Dublin market ; and I have little doubt 
that the energetic head of the Irish Veterinary Department does 
his best to imbue the owners of cattle sent there for sale with a 
more wholesome fear of the consequences of breaking the law 
than they are accustomed to receive at home. 
Dublin, however, is the only place in Ireland where I saw 
any properly appointed cattle-market. The place used as a 
cattle-market at Cork is simply a large field, enclosed by a high 
stone wall, that at Waterford is one of those open spaces of 
irregular shape generally termed " market-place," or " market- 
square." The cattle-fair at Drogheda was held in the streets ; * 
those at Mullingar and Ballinasloe were held on "greens" 
closely adjacent to the centre of the town, and probably pre- 
served for the purpose as the most valuable use to which the 
property could be applied. In none of these towns were the 
market-places or fair-greens divided into pens, nor was any other 
provision made for the separation of stock belonging to different 
owners. The only occasion on which I actually saw an attempt 
at veterinary inspection was at the great October fair at Bal- 
linasloe, although it had been half-expected that the evil repu- 
tation which Drogheda had recently acquired as a nest of "dis- 
temper," would have induced the authorities to send an inspector 
to the fair there. 
There was no special feature, either at Drogheda or Mullingar, 
to require description ; but if a veterinary inspector had been 
* The fortnightly cattle-fairs in many of our small Yorkshire towns are also 
held in the streets, which, at certain seasons, are crowded with Irish cattle, and 
are fertile sources of disease. — J. D. D. 
