DEATH OF MR. ERNES. 
128 
Mr. Ernes was a native of Belgium, and as such he could boast 
of as large a circle of professional friends on the Continent as in 
the land of his adoption. Their estimate also of him was 
I such that few, if any, of the professors of the continental schools 
or distinguished practitioners ever visited England without 
making a call upon “ friend Ernes ” their first act. His ac- 
quaintance with foreign languages was on these occasions of 
great use. He spoke German, French, and Italian fluently, and 
was also practically familiar with the patois of many continen- 
I tal districts. Several years of his early life were spent in travel, 
and the lively interest which he then took in all matters relating 
to horses and other animals led him to visit in succession most 
of the continental schools. 
In 1830 he essayed to join the profession, and for this purpose 
entered the school at Alfort, then under the directions of the 
celebrated Girard. Shortly afterwards he came to England, and 
I became a student at the Royal Veterinary College. In due time 
he was admitted into the ranks of the profession, his diploma 
bearing date June 4th, 1839. 
Mr. Ernes’ knowledge of veterinary science and of European 
languages led to his being deputed with Professor Simonds in 
1857, by the National Agricultural Societies of England, 
Ireland, and Scotland, to visit the Continent, and inquire into 
the nature and extent of the cattle plague, which was said to have 
made its way from Eastern Europe into Prussia, Mecklenburg, 
and contiguous German states. The Commissioners found the 
statement of the existence of the disease in "Western Europe not 
I to be correct ; and to complete their inquiry they had to travel 
far into Galicia before seeing animals suffering from the malady. 
On their return a full report of the investigation was prepared, 
and subsequently published in the Royal Agricultural Society's 
Journal. This report may be said to have proved of much value 
when, in 1865, the cattle plague was brought from Russia into 
England. During this year also a second International Veteri- 
nary Congress was held at Vienna, and Mr. Ernes was named 
one of the delegates to take part in its proceedings. Again, 
in 1867 he was deputed by the Government, conjointly with 
Professor Simonds, to attend an allied congress held in Zurich, 
at which the laws relating to the spread of the cattle plague 
formed one of the chief subjects for discussion. 
