Thursday, May 22, 1890. 
397 
and the examination and registration of duly-qualified Shoeing- 
smiths. Subsequently a Conference was held of representatives of the 
Worshipful Company, of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 
and of this Society ; and a comprehensive scheme, settled by the Con- 
ference, has now been approved by each of the three bodies represented. 
A public meeting at the Mansion House has been convened by the 
Farriers' Company for Monday, June 2 next, in support of the 
objects of the scheme ; and the Council have resolved to make an 
annual grant of 501. for the next three years towards the expenses 
of starting the system of registration, and of putting the new 
organisation upon a sound financial basis. 
21. Investigations have been carried on during the last six 
months in reference to the conditions under which tuberculosis is 
communicated from one class of animals to another, and from man 
to the lower animals ; also in regard to the micro-organisms of 
pleuro-pneumonia, and the effects of inoculation. The action of the 
various organisms found in swine which have died of swine-fever 
has been tested by experiments in feeding and inoculation, but no 
organism has yet been isolated which is capable of inducing typical 
swine-fever or pleuro-pneumonia. These investigations will be con- 
tinued. 
22. The arrangements for the establishment of a Department of 
Scientific Research at the Royal Veterinary College under a grant from 
the Society are proceeding, and it is expected that the Department 
will shortly be in full work. Mr. P. D. Coghill, of the Laboratory 
of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, has been appointed 
Superintendent of the Bacteriological Laboratory, and Curator of 
the Museum, by the Governors of the Royal Veterinary College. 
23. The Council are gratified to report that their persistent 
efforts, in concert with other Agricultural bodies, for placing the 
slaughter of animals affected with pleuro-pneumonia under Govern- 
ment control, and for the payment of compensation at the cost of 
the Imperial Exchequer, have been so far successful that a Bill with 
these objects has been introduced, on behalf of the Government, by 
the President of the Board of Agriculture, and has already passed 
through some of its stages. The Council trust that by the firm 
enforcement of this Act, when passed, the ruinous disease of pleuro- 
pneumonia will be speedily stamped out of the country. 
24. The Council have observed with alarm the renewal of 
proposals for the admission into this country of cattle from the 
United States without being subject to slaughter ; and, in view of the 
serious risk which would thus be incurred of introducing disease, 
they have entered, in a resolution unanimously passed, at their 
meeting on April 2, and forwarded to the Board of Agriculture, 
an emphatic protest against any present relaxation of the existing 
regulations. 
