Report on the Trade in Animals. 
213 
with this receiving-yard, but separated from it, is a hospital-shed 
for the reception of diseased animals. 
These excellent arrangements are made by the London and 
North-Western Railway Company as a matter of business. The 
manager in Dublin is convinced that a humane and rational 
method of conducting the traffic is not only possible, but in the 
long run remunerative. Following out his system, the men em- 
ployed in this receiving-yard do not object to give water in 
moderate quantities to the cattle previous to their shipment, pro- 
vided that a small quantity of hay is allowed first ; but other 
people object to giving water, on the ground that it induces 
scouring during the passage. No doubt beasts that have been 
kept for two or three days without food or water will drink an 
immoderate quantity in the receiving-yard, if allowed to do so ; 
and if this water is taken without food being also given, the cattle 
will almost certainly suffer from scouring. Thus, water, which 
costs nothing, is not given, because the dealers will not go to 
the expense of a little hay. I am strongly of opinion that all 
receiving-yards should be divided into convenient pens for each 
description of live stock, that all animals should receive food and 
water there previous to shipment, and that they should invariably 
be examined by a Government Inspector during the period of 
rest afforded by the necessity of feeding them. 
The arrangements at Drogheda, Cork, and Waterford do not 
differ in principle from those at Dublin. Drogheda seemed to 
me to merit its unenviable reputation as a centre of disease ; 
but I found the receiving-yards at Cork and Waterford far better 
kept than previous experience had led me to expect. The great 
fault is, that cleansing and disinfecting materials are not made 
sufficient use of in most cases ; while some yards are never 
cleansed further than to the extent incidental to the collection of 
the dung, which is sold periodically. 
It would not be just to the Great Western Railway Company, 
however, if I did not state that their business at Waterford is carried 
on in the same enlightened spirit as that of the London and North- 
Western at Dublin. Further than this, the Great Western Com- 
pany, I was informed, are now building steamboats of a superior 
character, and otherwise exerting themselves to put their cattle 
traffic in the south of Ireland on a thoroughly satisfactory basis. 
In particular, I may mention that a series of experiments have 
been made to test the practicability of establishing a large dead- 
meat trade Avith Ireland at all seasons of the year, one feature of 
which is the use of Ash's patent self- ventilating rail way- van, 
which keeps the air free from dust, and at a steady temperature 
throughout the journey. The probable results of so important an 
experiment cannot yet be inferred ; but if they should lead to the 
