REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 103 
at the frontier ; a project of law, with a view to such sanitary- 
precaution, was presented to the Chambers two years ago, 
but was rejected ; and therefore the only resource lies in the 
activity of the burgomasters in frontier localities, by enforcing 
the general regulations in regard to animals while within the 
range of their jurisdiction / 5 
Pleuro-pneumonia has prevailed rather in a sporadic than 
an epizootic form for the last two years, and an equal number 
of cases are said to have occurred in places where the 
feeding and general management of the animals are unex- 
ceptionable, as in those where the opposite state of things 
obtains, but that, under the latter-named circumstances, the 
disease has assumed a more fatal character. All animals 
which are supposed to be affected by this disease have to be 
reported by the proprietors; and if, on examination by the 
governmental veterinary surgeon, they are found to be the 
subjects of it, then an order is given for them to be killed. 
The skin, horns, and other integumental parts are used, but 
the flesh is buried as a rule, in accordance with the regulation 
of the government, who pay a proportionate amount of 
the value of the animal, and generally to the extent of one- 
third. 
It appears, however, that this regulation is sometimes 
evaded, and that the carcases of such animals occasionally 
find their way into the meat market, but no instance of 
injury done to persons eating such flesh is known to have 
occurred. Many animals also are not officially reported, as 
the proprietor either sells them for slaughtering or has them 
killed unknown to the authorities. Should this, however, 
become known, the animal is seized, and disposed of as the 
government sees fit, and a fine is also inflicted on the 
offender. Upon the whole, the laws of the sanitary police 
are so strictly enforced, that in the event of the rinderpest 
extending into Belgium, it seems scarcely possible for animals 
which had even been exposed to its infection to be exported 
from the country. 
At Antwerp, we ascertained that the chief exports of 
animals to England from thence are calves, and that the 
major part of the cows and oxen which are fatted for the 
market are sent into France, where at this time a better 
price is obtained for them than in England. The calves are 
purchased of the farmers in different parts of Belgium by 
commissioned agents, who collect them together for shipment 
from Antwerp, but some of the oxen come direct from 
Holland. The proportionate amount of oxen to calves 
which are exported, is shown by a return furnished by 
