370 Report on the Importation of Animals affected with 
with them, had not been exposed sufficiently long for the period 
of the incubation of the infecting material to have passed, practi- 
cally the animals were to be regarded as healthy, and, therefore, 
the delivery of their carcases to the butchers was not likely to 
be attended with any risk or danger. 
Case 5. In this CEise the diseased animals were brought into 
Hull by the ship 'Joseph Soames ' from Cronstadt. They 
arrived off the port so as to allow the ship to come into dock 
about 9"30 on the morning of the 25th July, having left Cron- 
stadt on the 16th. The Inspector went on board the vessel 
while she was lying in the Humber, and found 56 Russian 
bullocks on board, two of which excited his suspicion of their 
being affected with cattle-plague. When in dock the vessel 
remained in charge of the Customs, and none of the animals 
were allowed to be landed. It was ascertained that two bullocks 
had died at sea and been thrown overboard — one on the 20th 
and another on the 22nd. 
An opportunity was afforded me of enquiring into the facts 
of this case, and on inspecting tlie animals on the morning of the 
26th, I found the disease to be making such rapid progress, that 
from eighteen to twenty of them were now affected. Prompt 
action was taken ; the whole were slaughtered on board under 
the supervision of the Inspector of the local authority. None 
were allowed to be opened, but all were placed in two lighters 
and towed by a steam-tug out to sea for the purpose of being sunk, 
in accordance with the arrangements which had been made. 
In this instance, as there was a considerable quantity of material 
on board likely to convey infection, the cargo being a mixed one, 
arrangements were made by which the Local authority was to see 
that disinfection of the holds of the vessel was properly carried 
out before their contents were allowed to be landed ; and after 
the slaughter and removal of the cattle, that the decks of the 
vessel were well cleansed and disinfected, as well as the men 
employed in slaughtering the animals. From what has since 
transpired, it would appear that the lighters were not sunk as had 
been provided for ; but were left afloat with the carcases on board. 
This is much to be regretted ; but with whom the error rests, I 
have not at present been able to learn. 
Case G. This was a second importation into Hartlepool, and, as 
in the former instance, the animals came from Hamburg. They 
were, however, all German cattle — a fact of great importance in 
itself, but of still greaterwhen taken in connection with an importa- 
tion of German cattle into Newcastle, the subjects of cattle-plague. 
The animals, 26 in number, were brought in the ' Gipsy 
(^ueen,' and entered the docks about 10 P.M., July 28th (Sunday). 
The Inspector went on board before the ship was brought into 
