498 
THE CATTLE EPIDEMIC. 
To the Members of the Royal Agricultural Society. 
My Lords and Gentlemen, — The epidemic that occasionally 
makes such havock in this country was, from what I have been able 
to learn, sent us from foreign parts, — Holland for instance, which 
is a marshy country. We are told it is flooded in winter, which 
must be injurious to cattle, by their inhaling the gases that are 
given off from the stagnant pools : we know how prevalent bron- 
chitis is in our own country when cattle are turned on the fens. 
It is a contagious and infectious disease, as many know. I am 
sorry to say it has been the ruin of many, and, if any one can con- 
tribute towards putting a stop to such a disease being introduced 
into this country, I think he ought to give publicity to it. 
The manner in which the foreign cattle are examined to prevent 
the disease being sent us at the present time is, I think, quite ab- 
surd, and I make no doubt many agricultural gentlemen will be the 
same way of thinking that I am. 
A ship comes to the pier with cattle ; the examiner is there, who 
sees no disease about them : they are passed, considered sound ; 
but some of them are not in England many days before they are 
found to be diseased. Now, in my opinion, they must have been 
diseased before landed. The disease will remain dormant in the 
system for weeks, perhaps months, before it is fully developed. 
How is this to be prevented I It would be an expensive affair to 
have the cattle remain in any place for a month before they are 
allowed to be sent into our markets ; although, in my opinion, it 
would be the way to prevent our having any more introduction of 
the disease, and we might in time get rid of it. 
December 7, 1846, I was appointed veterinary surgeon to exa- 
mine the foreign cattle if the officers thought them to be diseased. 
I had no diploma, but, am pleased to say, I gave great satisfaction 
to the Customs, also to the merchant, by making a post-mortem 
examination before I condemned any. 
November 1847, the Customs wished me to obtain my di- 
ploma : I presented myself for an examination, but was unsuccess- 
ful. The gentlemen at the Customs kindly offered to keep the ap- 
pointment for the next three months, but I, being in great trouble 
at the time, thought it best to resign. A person of the name of 
Bark, hearing I was about to resign, presented himself for the ap- 
pointment, he having been so fortunate as to gain his diploma some 
years since, when veterinary pupils were not examined on the dis- 
eases of cattle. The gentlemen at the Customs wrote to Professor 
