154 K,EPO&T ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
sible for a disease of a malignant kind, which is incubated 
in the system of an animal for ten days or a fortnight, to be 
introduced into England from other countries via Holland : 
and, also, how necessary it is that we should be acquainted 
with what is passing on the continent with regard to diseases 
in general as affecting cattle, and particularly if belonging to 
that class which forms the subject of this report. 
The continuance of a well-ordered and rigid system of in- 
spection of imported animals on our part will, however, do 
much to protect us, and that not merely by its leading to 
the detection of diseased animals on their arrival, but by the 
effect which it will have upon the export trade of foreign 
countries. Proof of this is given by the circumstance that 
last year, when it became known that our Customs 5 inspec- 
tors had received orders to be particularly strict in the 
examinations of cattle, the General Steam Navigation Com- 
pany of Rotterdam, unwilling to take the responsibility of 
the probable rejection of animals committed to their care, 
appointed a veterinary surgeon to examine them when put 
on board their boats. This company brings by far the 
largest proportion of cattle to England, and although this 
precautionary measure was not adopted by other shipping 
companies, they nevertheless declared their intention of 
having recourse to it, and only refrained from so doing, be- 
cause of the great diminution which took place in the num- 
ber of the aniftials which were shipped. The system of 
examination was kept in force for about three months, when 
also, and from the same cause, the General Steam Naviga- 
tion Company discontinued it. The returns of these exami- 
nations, together with the results, w T ere regularly transmitted 
to the British Consul. Should the prices again rise in 
England to an extent which w ? ould, in the opinion of the 
cattle feeders, justify them in sending us more animals, then 
there cannot be a doubt of the re-establishment of this sys- 
tem of inspection. 
No duty is chargeable on animals imported into Holland, 
but an export one has to be paid, and which amounts in 
English money to about the following rate per head, namely, 
oxen, 10 d., calves, 2c/., sheep, 2c/., iambs, 1 pigs, 1 d., with 
an additional duty of 13 per cent, on the gross sum. 
Although Holland rears immense numbers of cattle, she, 
for her great export trade in these animals, becomes an im- 
porting country for hides, receiving her chief supply of these 
from Java and Buenos Ayres, w ith some from England, but 
none from Russia, so that all fear of the introduction of con- 
tagious diseases through the means of skins may cease, in so 
far as Holland is concerned. 
