276 ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 
Konigsberg to a lengthened quarantine, as there seems to be no doubt that 
the disease occasionally breaks out in herds some time after they have been 
domiciled in their new quarters. The disease originally comes from the 
Steppes of the Ukraine, whence vast numbers of cattle are yearly driven 
westward. It would appear to commence with violent fever, which rapidly 
degenerates into acute dysentery, the animal dying in a few days after the 
first appearance of the disorder, of intestinal ulceration. 
“ 1 have, &c. 
(Signed) “ W. TV. Mansfield. 
** The Earl of Clarendon.” 
“British Consulate, Konigsberg; March 11, 1857. 
“ My Lord, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Lord 
Shelburne’s despatch, No. 2, of 7th of March, and to report that since 1854 
rumours of a murrain or cattle-plague in Yolhynia and Podolia were cur- 
rent, and that since that time the disease has been advancing in a northerly 
and westerly direction, and that most distressing accounts have been 
received of the ravages amongst the cattle, and of the disease spreading till 
close upon the Prussian frontiers. The Prussian government, during the 
years 1855 and 1856, took great precautions to prevent the disease from 
entering Prussia, by detaching parties of military at all the points of egress 
from Poland below Thorn. In the autumn of 1856 until now the disease 
has continued its march, and at last reached Kowno and Tauroggen. The 
Prussian government has now enforced most stringent measures all along 
the borders ; and no hides, calf-skins, wool, rags, or any article which is 
likely to have been in any way connected with cattle, and all Jews and other 
persons who are in any way suspected of having transactions with cattle or 
any of those articles, are permitted to cross the borders, and when any such 
attempt is made the articles are immediately burned. By these means the 
disease has, up to the present time, been kept out of Prussia, and the greatest 
vigilance is observed to destroy and bury any animal when a suspicion of 
infection exists. The dealers have for some time past avoided the Prussian 
route, and take their goods to Russian ports, particularly to Libau, for ship- 
ment ; and Russian hides and calf-skins, which formerly went through the 
Prussian ports, all go that way now. I may add, that the hide and calf-skin 
export, which was formerly of great magnitude to Great Britain, has now 
taken a different channel. The skins go now almost all to Liibeck, and from 
thence to Erankfort-on-the-Maine, or to Stettin, and from thence to Berlin, 
&c. ; and it is not impossible that the infection may be carried to the heart 
of Germany by these means, although the precautions of the Prussian 
government may have warded it off from the eastern frontiers. I have 
never heard that live cattle have been shipped from the Baltic ports. The 
disease is reported to be a violent purging and sudden death. 
" I have, &c. 
(Signed) “ W. J. Hertslet. 
“ The Earl of Clarendon.” 
“Eoreign Office; March 31, 1857. 
“ Sir, — I am directed by the Earl of Clarendon to transmit to you, to be 
laid before the President and Committee of the Royal Agricultural Society, 
copy of a telegraphic despatch from her Majesty’s Consul at Memel, report- 
ing the symptoms of the murrain amongst the cattle. 
“ I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, 
“E. Hammond. 
“ Jas. Hudson, Esq.” 
