LECTURE ON THE DISEASES OF CATTLE, 657 
tice of witnessing disease in its various forms, and of dealing with 
symptoms which an unpractised eye might never detect. The 
other part of the subject, however — that of general management — 
especially belongs to the owner of cattle. To that question too 
much attention cannot be directed ; and I am quite positive that 
if the principles to which I have called your attention be tho- 
roughly carried out, very beneficial results will ensue, and espe- 
cially that less of our animals will be carried off by disease than 
are lost under the present system of treatment (cheers). 
Mr. Turner then expressed the extreme gratification which he 
had felt in listening to the lecture which had just been delivered. 
The subject was one of the most important that could be discussed 
at a meeting of agriculturists. He attached especial value to the 
remarks which had been made on the line of demarcation of health 
and disease, and he thought that until more attention was directed 
to the means of preventing disease, great loss would continue to be 
sustained. 
Mr. Aitchison said a great deal had been spoken that evening 
on the subject of preventing disease, and he had one statement to 
make which was closely connected with that subject. About six 
years ago he acquired the management of twenty-four horses. 
Before this time these animals had been hotly and closely stabled 
at night, and the farrier’s bill amounted to several pounds every 
year. Dissatisfied with such an expense, he decided that, instead 
of being stabled as before from Michaelmas until Lady-day, they 
should all be turned into a comfortable and open yard. This was 
done, and during three years he did not pay £2> on their account. 
At night they were turned into a warm, comfortable yard ; at five 
in the morning they were just put into their stable for a short 
period before going to work ; and whereas there had been immense 
disease previously, under this new arrangement there was hardly 
any. He would like to hear Mr. Cherry’s opinion on the question 
whether it was better that horses should be turned out or stabled. 
Mr. Cherry observed, in reply to Captaih Aitchison, that he had 
collected from his statement, that the stable in which the horses 
spoken of by him had been confined was close and hot, and pro- 
bably there was an accumulation of filth in it ; whereas the yard 
was comfortable. Under such circumstances, the latter might be 
the best for the animals at night. If it is possible, however, to 
obtain a well- ventilated and well-managed stable for them, then 
there could be no comparison between the open air and shelter. 
To animals shelter was every thing, and the grand object was to 
combine warmth with purity. The children who ran wild about 
the streets of London during the day continued healthy, on the 
whole, so long as they had shelter at night. He had invariably 
VOL. xx. 4 s 
