100 
REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
some more decisive step should be taken; and this opinion 
found a ready response in the other two national Agricul- 
tural Societies of Scotland and Ireland. At this juncture a 
communication was received from the Royal Agricultural 
Improvement Society of Ireland, suggesting “that it would 
be desirable for the three agricultural societies of the United 
Kingdom to join in the common object of despatching abroad 
a special veterinary inspector, for the purpose of ascertaining 
the exact nature of the contagious typhus,” 
At a meeting of the Council, held on the 1st of April, 
some further communications were read from Mr. Hall 
Maxwell, C.B., Secretary of the Highland and Agricultural 
Society of Scotland, and from Captain Croker, Secretary of 
the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland, ex- 
pressing their willingness to concur with the Royal Agricul- 
tural Society in making arrangements for despatching a 
veterinary inspector to the districts abroad where the cattle- 
murrain was at present raging. The Council thereupon 
agreed to the following resolution : 
That it is expedient to send a competent veterinary professor to examine 
into the nature of the cattle-murrain on the Continent. That the Society 
gladly accepts the co-operation of the Highland and Agricultural Society of 
Scotland and the Royal Agricultural Improvement Society of Ireland, in 
this step. The society ventures to recommend that Professor Simonds, of 
the Royal Veterinary College, be commissioned to this task. That he be 
empowered to take with him a German veterinary surgeon, established in 
London, quite competent for the business, and who would smooth the diffi- 
culties of the German language. It is supposed that about three weeks 
would be required for a satisfactory examination. That the Highland and 
Agricultural Society of Scotland be informed that the Royal Agricultural 
Improvement Society of Ireland propose to share the expense of this mis- 
sion with the Royal Agricultural Society of England ; and that they be 
asked to join in the same manner.” 
It is scarcely necessary to say that the national societies of 
Scotland and Ireland most readily consented to the proposi- 
tion contained in this resolution ; and on the Government 
being informed of the step about to be taken, Lord Clarendon 
kindly forwarded the subjoined letter of introduction to the 
British Consuls to me, through the Secretary of the Society, 
accompanied with the following communication : 
“ Eoiieign Office ; April 4 , 1857 . 
“ Sir, — I am directed by the Earl of Clarendon to acknowledge the re- 
ceipt of your letter of the 2d instant, acquainting his lordship with the in- 
tention of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, in 
conjunction with the Societies of Scotland and Ireland, to send Professor 
Simonds to those districts abroad where the disease among cattle is at 
present raging ; and I am to enclose a letter which has been addressed, by 
