EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
59 7 
in commenting upon it, the editor observes — “We have been 
up to this moment assured by some of the largest stock- 
masters, that their herds were never for years past more free 
from infectious or epidemic disease of any kind whatsoever. 
We request our contemporaries to insert this authentic con- 
tradiction of the statement., since its circulation and belief 
might have a most injurious effect upon the property and 
transactions of the stock-owners, especially at the approach- 
ing great fair at Banagher, which commences on the 15th of 
this month (September), and which is only second to Balli- 
nasloe, both in the number and quality of the cattle exhi- 
bited and the large attendance of buyers who resort to it, and 
not only from all parts of this country, but from England 
and Scotland.” 
The alarmists have doubtless sounded the trumpet too 
loudly, but it is nevertheless true, that pleuro-pneumonia 
does prevail in many parts of the sister country, and to a 
somewhat greater extent than usual. 
For several years past, many of the feeders of cattle have 
been chary in their purchases of animals imported from 
Ireland, more especially if they have been just sent in, 
as experience has proved that they are very susceptible 
to pleuro-pneumonia. Many an outbreak of this disease, 
and its extension to other animals already on the farm, has 
depended on these new comers. 
This increased susceptibility has its origin in the priva- 
tions and fatigue to which such cattle are exposed. Col- 
lected from various districts, they are driven to contiguous 
railway stations to be forwarded as quickly as possible to the 
coast for embarkation. Next they have to endure the mise- 
ries of a sea voyage of several hours’ duration. Landed, it 
may be at Liverpool, they are “ trucked” again for the Mid- 
land counties of England, and not a few of them are sent 
onwards to the cattle-markets in Norfolk, which they reach 
almost without having had a day’s rest from the time they 
left their native meads and pastures. No wonder that dis- 
ease should attend such a practice ; or that the cattle, having 
been exposed either at home or on their arrival here to the 
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