Cattle-Plague during the month of July, 1872. 
369^ 
when many miles from the shore they were thrown overboard. So 
rapid was the progress of the plague, that by this time thirteen 
, of the animals were evidently affected. AH the animals were 
disembowelled, but not skinned. Besides the carcases of the 
diseased, the viscera and the skins of the others were also thrown 
overboard, and the healthy cattle, as "sides of beef," brought 
back to Leith. By the time the vessel was again in dock it was 
found that the "sides of beef" were not in a condition to be 
used for food, or safely landed, and, consequently, they were put 
on board a lighter, taken into the Firth and thrown overboard. 
" The vessel was subsequently cleansed and disinfected. 
In this case it is to be regretted that some of the viscera, and 
it is also said some of the carcases, have been washed ashore. 
With regard to the latter statement, it may be remarked th.it it 
does not appear that the carcases of cattle which have reached 
the shore in the neighbourhood of Berwick are really those 
which were thrown overboard from the ' Benachie,' but rather 
of Danish cattle lost at sea. It should be further stated that one 
of the three cattle-plague animals died, so that the case stands 
• thus: Cargo, 50; died, 1; killed, diseased, 12; slaughtered, 
healthy, 37 ; all disposed of by being thrown overboard. 
Case 4. The animals in this instance came from Hamburg 
into the port of Newcastle. They were brought in the ' Briga- 
dier,' and arrived at about 3 A.M., July 22nd. They numbered 
seventy-eight, 70 being German and 8 Russian cattle. . 
On being landed, and placed in the lair in the defined part of 
the port, they were seen by the Inspector, who at once recognized 
the existence of cattle-plague in two of the Russian beasts. The 
disease was so far advanced in one animal that it died shortly 
after being landed. On inquiry, it was also ascertained that 
another Russian bullock had died about six hours after beino- 
taken on board at Hamburg and been thrown into the sea. 
The German cattle were free from cattle-plague; but some of 
them were suffering from a slight attack of " foot-and-mouth 
disease." The whole w'ere slaughtered as quickly as possible, 
and their skins disinfected. The bodies of the diseased, beiner 
first disinfected, were removed to a manure manufactory close at 
hand, and at once destroyed by chemical agents. The carcases 
of the German cattle were carefully inspected before being 
delivered to their owners. Everything else, including " butcher's 
offal," was either disinfected or destroyed. The ship was also 
well cleansed and disinfected, and the landing-place and lair 
declared an " infected place " by the local authority. 
In this instance there appears to be little or no doubt that 
the Russian cattle were in a positively diseased condition when 
taken on board ; but as the German cattle, although brought 
VOL. YIII. — S. S. 2 B 
