254 
Splenic Apoplexij. 
tation, it was most dangerous to put cattle on the land. It was in a 
diy summer that the meadows scoured most. 
Colonel Challon'er said it was an every-day question among 
farmers whether the water that cattle drank from a pond, into 
which the drainage of the farm-yard ran, was or was not detri- 
mental. He would be glad if their chemical and veterinary pro- 
fessors could give them some definite information on that point. 
Professor Voelcker said many samples of water which looked like 
the very essence of the manure-heap had on analysis been found to 
contain but little deleterious matter. Indeed, such water frequently 
contained much less of such matters than clear water. It was a 
remaikable fact that some of the clearest, best-tasting, and appa- 
rentlj^ most wliolesome waters were among the most deleterious that 
could be taken, being largely impregnated with mineral and saline 
substances. Amongst the latter he would mention especially nitrates 
as being highly injurious. In the yard-waters the amount of organic 
matter was often very small, a very small quantity of drainage being 
sufficient to give a brown colour to a large quantity of water. 
Water which appeared to be impregnated with a large quantity 
of organic matter was often not so in reality. "When, however, a 
large quantity of refuse material found its way into pond-water it 
must be injurious. 
. I'rofessor Simoxds agreed with Professor Voelcker that the dark 
colour of water did not of itself prove that it was deleterious. There 
was a great deal of colouring matter in the farm-yard that found 
its way into the contiguous pond, and it was an established fact that 
cattle drank such water with impunity. Some cattle even preferred 
it — he would not say to their benefit — to harder, clearer, and 
brighter water. Whether or not such water acted injuriously or 
not to health depended, however, on the amount of organic matters 
in it. It might contain so small an amount as not to be prejudicial 
to the health of an animal, or, on the contrary, so much organic 
matter and saline substances might be mingled with it as to render 
it very deleterious. 
Lord Walsingiiam then moved a vote of thanks to Professors 
Simonds, Buckman, and Voelcker for their able and instructive 
lectures. 
Colonel Challoner seconded the motion. * 
The Chairman, before putting it. said he was sure the council and 
the members present were much obliged to those gentlemen for the 
information Avith which they had favoured them ; information which 
could scarcely fail to direct the attention of the owners and occu- 
piers of land in similar districts to that which had been described — 
to the question whether, as regarded a great deal of such land, it 
might not be well if it were broken u]"), not necessarily for a perma- 
nency, but for a course of tillage ; so that if it were again converted 
into pasture the present bad grasses might be superseded by grasses 
of improved quality. 
Tlie motion was then agreed to, and the proceedings terminated. 
