484 
Report on the Contagious and 
This view, however, does not satisfy all observers, and it con- 
sequently happens that a large number of persons believe, in 
reference to all infectious maladies, that they do not possess the 
property of communication by contact, but are disseminated in 
accordance with certain peculiar atmospheric conditions, the 
nature of which, however, they do not profess to understand. 
During the progress of the cattle plague many persons held the 
belief that the disease was in no way infectious or contagious, 
and they manifested their indifference to the consequences of 
indirect communication between sick and healthy stock by 
passing freely from one to the other. In a great many instances 
the result of this course of procedure was, as might be expected, 
communication of the disease to the healthy animals ; but in 
some few instances herds which were so injudiciously treated 
nevertheless escaped. 
Setting aside certain exceptions which occasionally present 
themselves, and to which more than necessary importance is 
often attached, it is true that contagious and infectious diseases 
spread in obedience to the operation of well-known laws, that 
they assume a virulent form when their course is unrestricted, 
and that they may be, with almost absolute certainty, extermi- 
nated by the application of stringent measures. 
This statement is made with confidence, notwithstanding the 
allegation that the operation of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) 
Act has not materially influenced the spread of infectious and 
contagious diseases among the stock of our own country. Ad- 
mitting the allegation to be true, it is not difficult of explana- 
tion. In the first place, as far as personal observation enables 
me to decide, the Act has not been carried out effectually in any 
one district, to say nothing of the whole country. The most 
energetic action which I have witnessed has consisted simply in 
the punishment of offenders against the law — a proceeding 
which, however desirable, obviously can have little influence in 
preventing the spread of the disease which has been occasioned 
by the negligence of the offending parties. 
Again, the sanitary care of the stock of the country, which 
should be placed in the hands of veterinary surgeons has been 
very generally left to the police, who, however valuable as 
assistants in carrying out the details of the various sections of 
the Act are quite incompetent to detect the existence of disease, 
to decide as to its nature, or advise in reference to the curative 
or preventive measures which may be necessary. 
The fact that additional veterinary inspectors are appointed 
immediately on the appearance of the cattle plague in the country 
is of itself a proof that the local authorities admit the value of 
professional aid. Considerable additional expense would un- 
