200 
THE EPIDEMIC ON THE CONTINENT. 
At present no means of purification have been employed in refer- 
ence to the articles of merchandize under suspicion ; for, if any 
such means of an efficient nature existed, their employment has 
been retarded in consequence of the difficulty anticipated in put- 
ting them in practice on a great scale, and because all suspected 
animals are immediately slaughtered. As soon as a case of epi- 
demic occurs in any part whatever of the Austrian dominions, every 
animal of the same establishment is required to be immediately 
killed, and buried whole without being cut up. Before such step, 
however, is taken, the proprietor of the stock is held bound to 
communicate the fact of the appearance of the epidemic among them 
to the knowledge of the Sanatory Commission, which at once dele- 
gates a veterinarian, accompanied by the local authority and an 
appraising commissioner. These delegates divide the stock into 
three classes: 1st, Diseased animals; 2d, Suspected animals; 
and, 3d, Healthy animals. The appraising commissioner estimates 
the value of the stock in the two latter classes, and the proprietor 
of them is indemnified solely on account of the suspected and the 
healthy animals. For the former of these — the suspected — he 
receives one-third, one-half, or two-thirds of the estimated value ; 
for the latter — the healthy — he is paid the whole value. It is only 
after such an inquiry and decision that the whole stock of any 
given establishment is put to death. This slaughtering takes place 
without any escape of the blood of the animals. In spite of these 
positive prescriptions of the Government, it is astonishing to find 
announcements in the public papers of cases of restoration to health 
in the animals which have been attacked by the disease — circum- 
stances which would lead to the supposition that the regulations 
were either not general and uniform, or that they were not duly 
enforced. The greatest possible cleanliness is enjoined by the 
Sanatory Commission in the places where the stock is kept; and 
it has been remarked that the cold weather has had a favourable 
influence on the health of the animals. It has been asserted, that 
in Austria a disease of the same nature as that affecting cattle had 
attacked the hares and foxes of that country. The Government 
denies this circumstance in the most formal manner.” [Y.] 
REPORT of a Post-mortem Examination made on the 21th In- 
stant , two and a half Hours after the Death of a Cow that died 
of the mysterious fatal Disease which at present prevails in the 
County of Berbice. By H. A. Koch. 
On the evening of the 26th instant the cow was apparently 
hearty and well, but at seven o’clock in the morning of the -27th 
died. 
