534 SELECT COMMITTEE ON CONTAGIOUS DISEASES BILL. 
riorate the value of his cattle at the ensuing fair 50, or 60, 
or 70 per cent., because nobody would buy store cattle of a 
man whose herd he knew to be infected by disease? — Just 
so ; but I was speaking generally with regard to my know- 
ledge that farmers have been ready to communicate the state 
and condition of their cattle, and I can imagine individual 
cases, such, for example as you have drawn, where there 
might be great difficulty in the way. 
53. Are you really acquainted with country affairs and the 
buying and selling of cattle? — Perfectly so. 
54. And do you not know of your own knowledge that the 
great endeavour of a man who has a contagious disease 
among his store cattle must be to conceal it from the public? 
— His interests are unquestionably involved, presuming he 
is compelled to sell those animals ; but I hold that very 
frequently a man is not compelled to sell those animals ; 
and I hold that legislation should be to prevent a man 
selling animals under such circumstances. 
55. Suppose this case, which frequently occurs in Ireland, 
that people keep their store cattle up to a certain time of the 
year, that is, up to winter, when they must either sell them, 
or let them starve; do you think that a man under those 
circumstances would be likely to tell the Board of Guardians 
that his cattle were affected with disease? — It is impossible 
for me to say what a man would be likely to do, as it is an 
unfortunate position for a man to be placed in, that he has 
no food for a number of animals that are all in a state of 
disease : he has either to keep them under the circumstances 
until they die, or has to send them into a market to spread 
infection all over the country. 
56. I do not say that all are diseased ; I say one out of 
150? — Then if this disease is a contagious disease, all that 
have been exposed to it may have the affection incubated in 
their system, and may go through the country, and spread 
the disease far and wide. I think the case which your lord- 
ship has put is a strong one to show the necessity for legis- 
lation on the subject. 
57. We were alluding to the legislation which you pro- 
pose, and the possibility of enforcing it. As to fat cattle, 
you stated that in the early stages of pleuro-pneumonia the 
meat is not affected? — Just so* 
58. Is there not a great deal of meat exposed for sale 
in the market affected with pleuro-pneumonia, which is fit 
for human food? — Unquestionably a great deal of the meat 
which is exposed for sale, and which is the produce of 
