GLASGOW VETERINARY COLLEGE. 
971 
through his kindly informing me I was enabled to trace a number 
of cattle from the same quarter, and to place my hands upon 
them. The licence was produced, and worse than all that has 
been narrated, it bore no written destination, so that the un- 
principled seller and purchaser could carry the animals where- 
ever they chose, ‘and until they were disposed of to their satisfaction. 
But, it may be asked, why allow our local authority to make 
laws contrary to the spirit of the Act, and to the injury of other 
local authorities and the whole community. And the only answer 
that can be given is, that the Government believed and trusted 
that each local authority would do its duty • and in this, as we 
observe, they have been deceived. 
It was my opinion prior to the passing of the Act, and it is 
now my decided conviction, that there should be a compulsory 
slaughter of diseased animals and a proportionate compensation 
allowed, as in the case of cattle plague ; and until this rule is 
introduced, and each local authority bound to enforce the provisions 
of the Act under severe penalties, veterinary surgeons only ap- 
pointed as inspectors, and a Government officer deputed to 
exercise surveillance over local authorities and their officers, the 
Act will continue to prove, as it has done, inadequate to prevent 
the spread of pleuro-pneumonia, epizootica, and other contagious 
diseases, far less to extinguish or stamp them out. 
In Glasgow, I am glad to say, since the days of the rinderpest, 
there never has been at any one period more than half-a-dozen sepa- 
rate dairies affected with contagious diseases of any kind; and at the 
present moment there are only three, and in each case the disease 
has been introduced by new purchases from the country. Such a 
condition of matters is a great improvement as contrasted with 
the enormous mortality and loss of money which ensued in a like 
period of time prior to the rinderpest, as may be ascertained by a 
reference to my published tabulated statement of the losses sus- 
tained by the dairymen of Glasgow for periods under ten years 
prior to the appearance of cattle plague. 
It is but justice to say that the healthy condition of the cattle 
in the byres of Glasgow is partly due to the monthly inspection 
which takes place under the “ Cattle Sheds in Burghs” Act, 
to the good feeling existing between the local authority of 
Glasgow and of the counties of Lanark and Benfrew, and their 
Veterinary Inspectors ; and although last, most important, to the 
regular and systematic inspection of all markets and sale yards in 
Glasgow by my assistants and myself. 
It is not long since the nature of pleuro-pneumonia, epizootica, 
was one of the bones of contention within the professional circle. 
A large majority holding the opinion, with the late Professor 
Dick at their head, that it was non-contagious ; but the number 
who now believe in the doctrine is few. As the profession are 
(I hope I am not misleading or being misled), I may say, at one 
as to its contagious character, so I hope ere long will the govern- 
ment of the country be, as to its treatment by legislative 
