523 
THE CATTLE PESTILENCE. 
The Central Society of Agriculture of France. 
“ The sitting of the 22d of April was wholly occupied 
with a communication from M. Renault, Director of Alfort, 
and which exclusively absorbed the attention of all present. 
In a previous sitting, M. Pommierhad called the attention 
of the members to a letter published in the Times, and which 
proclaimed in alarming terms the reappearance of the con- 
tagious typhus, which periodically ravages the countries of 
Northern Europe. And besides this, the measures adopted 
by the English Government to prevent the introduction into 
the United Kingdom of cattle, hides, bones, or any animal 
matter whatever, coming from Russia, Prussia, and Mechlen- 
burg-Schwerin, imparted a character of authenticity to the 
fears expressed by the Times. 
M. Renault asks whether these fears are well founded, and 
if we ought really to trouble ourselves about the reports 
circulated respecting the contagious typhus. 
There was one categorical way of replying, once for all, to 
these questions ; and that was by giving the history of this 
terrible disease; and M. Renault is better qualified than any 
other person to afford this information, having been twice 
sent by the French Government to inspect the district in 
which the epizootic prevailed. 
M. Renault first and foremost declares that there is no 
cause to be alarmed at the ravages of this malady. 
Twelve years ago the contagious typhus made a great 
noise in France ; we saw it rapidly approaching towards us : 
it was reported to be in Belgium, and even in Alsace. The 
press, the Chamber of Deputies, and the Government were 
seriously excited about it. A Commission, consisting of 
Messrs. Yvart, Inspector-General of the Veterinary Schools, 
Renault, Director of Alfort, and Imlin, Veterinary Surgeon 
of Strasburg, were sent into the North of Europe. 
On arriving at Brussels, the Commission certainly found 
the country almost appalled, but it was only with the reports 
which had been spread in France. The Commission took 
the line of our eastern frontier by following the Rhine, and 
were met there by one deep feeling of astonishment at 
the fears which we had manifested. On approching the east 
the Commission did not perceive the least trace of uneasiness. 
