61*2 
THE CATTLE EPIDEMIC. 
Odessa, 28th April, 1845. 
My Lord, — I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt, on 
the 20th ultimo, by a sailing vessel from Constantinople, of Mr. 
Bidwell’s despatch consular, No. 2, of the 28th January, contain- 
ing the copy of a letter from the Board of Trade relative to a dis- 
ease now prevalent among cattle, and whereby I am commanded 
by your lordship to furnish all the information that I can obtain on 
the subject. 
This distemper, having caused an immense loss of horned cattle 
in Southern Russia, was mentioned by me in my despatch consular, 
No. 7, of 28th February. I had there to lament the dearth of 
scientific observation and of authenticated facts, both wanted to 
throw light on the nature and extent of the calamity ; and though 
my inquiries had not been discontinued, I have, since the duty has 
been specially imposed upon me, felt more pressingly urged; yet 
I have reason to fear that I am still insufficiently provided with 
materials for a satisfactory account, and such as may be expected. 
There are few veterinary surgeons in this part of the empire to 
be usefully consulted. 
The agricultural society (Societe del’Economie Rurale), founded 
in Odessa with funds from government, has been strangely and 
culpably neglectful of this matter, though of vital importance to 
the country ; for the bullock is here the only power employed in 
culture and in the carriage of produce. 
Nor have my applications, both in person and by letter, dated 
27th March, to General Federoff, the governor of Bessarabia, and 
the acting governor-general of New Russia, been hitherto more 
productive, though his excellency politely met my inquiries with 
promises to endeavour to satisfy me. My questions bore particu- 
larly upon two points : — 
1st, On the progress of the contagion, or epidemic, its course 
and direction ; and, 2dly, on the mortality, compared with the 
stocks of certain districts. 
Fearing farther delay, I now venture to lay before your lordship 
the information, however imperfect, that I have obtained, chiefly 
from private gentlemen holding estates in different parts of the 
country, as well as from persons, who, like myself, have been 
seeking it in several ways. 
The disease has been called the “ cattle or Siberian plague.” 
The grey-coloured breed, alone indigenous upon these steppes, is 
thought to be particularly subject to it ; and many persons are as- 
sured that this country is never entirely free from it, though it may 
remain unnoticed during a long time, while inactive and restricted 
to obscure parts. 
Under certain circumstances, some of which may be explained, 
