LECTURE ON THE DISEASES OF CATTLE. 
641 
There is not only the loss by death, but the loss of flesh, the ex- 
haustion of the carcass, consequent upon the disease (hear, hear). 
I believe that the public are not aware of the great loss to the com- 
munity which this disease has occasioned within the last few 
years ; and I fear that in all the districts of England from which I 
can obtain information the loss is still increasing. I know that in 
my own part of the country it has of late been very much increased 
by the introduction of foreign cattle. Instances have occurred — 
and perhaps I may, in the course of the evening, relate them to 
you — which shew that when part of a herd of English cattle are 
sent out to graze with cattle which have been confined in close 
shipping and brought from abroad, they will catch the contagion, 
and very serious losses will occur. Many of my own friends and 
neighbours have sustained most serious losses, some losing from 
twenty-five to forty, and in extreme cases even fifty, per cent, of 
their cattle ; and up to the present time no one has come forward 
to recommend any remedy or cure -which can be depended upon. 
Within the last two or three years 1 have done all that I possibly 
could, in connection with the Royal Agricultural Society, to invite 
the attention of the Veterinary College to this subject. We have 
have contributed annually £200 a year, and I think that up to 
the present period we have not received our quid pro quo. I hope 
that in future we shall have it. The attention of the society is 
now directed to the subject, and a premium of £50 has been offered 
for the best essay on the disease. I fear that this may in some 
degree check discussion this evening ; for I am happy to hear 
that our friend Mr. Cherry, who has so kindly come forward to 
give us his experience on the subject, intends to be a competitor 
for the prize. This may prevent him from giving us that infor- 
mation which he would otherwise be happy to furnish. Still, I 
feel persuaded that what he has to say on the subject you will 
hear with attention, and that whatever information is communicated 
will be given with a sincere desire to benefit the agricultural in- 
terest and the community at large. I feel rather strongly upon 
this matter. I regret that a greater number of the large graziers 
of the kingdom are not present. I can only attribute the fact to 
the early period of the year ; for I know that in reality they feel 
great anxiety upon this subject — a subject on which I hope that, 
though this is the first discussion it will not be the last (hear, hear). 
I now beg to introduce to your notice Mr. Cherry. 
Mr. Cherry then rose and said : Gentlemen, — In making the 
offer, which I did spontaneously so long since as the month of 
February last, to Mr. Hobbs, your chairman, I did so merely with 
a view of making what little information I possessed serve the 
purpose, if not of arresting, yet in some degree of mitigating, a 
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