Report to the General Meeting. 
ix 
disinfection of attendants on infected animals, as well as of the 
premises in which the animals are kept, and the utensils, sub- 
stances, and things that have been in contact with them. 
The Sub-Committee of the Council appointed to consider the 
question of an investigation into the amount of Meat annually 
produced by the Live-stock of the United Kingdom had an inter- 
view and subsequent communications with the Lord President 
of the Council. Instructions have since been given that arrange- 
ments may be made in the form of Return, whereby it is hoped 
that information as to the numbers of Cattle, Sheep, and Swine 
respectively born on every farm, as well as those of all animals 
in each of these classes that have died from natural causes on the 
farm during the year dealt with in the Agricultural Returns, will 
be furnished by occupiers. 
The plan of appointing Provincial Veterinary Surgeons to 
the Society, which was commenced in 1882, has been extended 
this year to every county in England and Wales, and the 
Council are glad to announce that in nearly every case the 
gentlemen selected have accepted the appointment. They trust 
that these appointments will encourage Members of the Society 
to have timely recourse to efficient Veterinary aid in cases of 
disease amongst their cattle, sheep, and pigs. 
Professor Axe having concluded his investigation into the 
losses which have been sustained by Lincolnshire sheep-farmers 
in consequence of abortion in ewes and premature dropping of 
lambs, his final Report will be published in the next number of 
the 'Journal.' 
The scientific departments of the Society continue to increase 
in activity and usefulness, owing partly to the greater demand 
for their assistance by Members of the Society, and partly to 
the investigations which are made by the Honorary Consulting 
Entomologist, the Consulting Chemist, and the Consulting 
Botanist respectively. Ten years ago, the number of samples 
sent to the Consulting Chemist during the year was 645, and it 
has this year been 1628. At the former period the Consulting 
