REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 155 
Our investigations led us to visit the cattle feeders, and 
among others we saw Mynheer A. Poot, who resides within 
a few miles of Rotterdam. M. Poot ships upon an average 
600 animals a year He informed us that no disease had 
prevailed in his sheds since February last, prior to which 
time he had several cases of pleuro-pneumonia. He ap- 
peared to be an entire stranger to any other contagious 
disease, and said that, in the event of an affection like rinder- 
pest breaking out among his stock, a cordon would be imme- 
diately placed around the farm by the local authorities, and 
that he should be compelled to slaughter the diseased 
animals and bury them with their skins on in quick-lime. 
In his opinion it would be an impossibility to export any 
portion of their carcases to England, even if attempts were 
made to do so, in consequence of the strictness with which 
the police sanitary regulations are carried out. He adduced 
as an instance, that on the first breaking out of pleuro- 
pneumonia in 1829, and before experience had shown that 
the flesh could safely be used for food, he and others had to 
kill the affected cattle and bury them entire, with a view to 
prevent injury being done to the people, as well as to limit 
the spread of the malady. 
On the question of our Government ordering all imported 
animals to be slaughtered on their arrival in the docks, and 
their carcases sent to the meat-market, M. Poot considered 
that such a step would be tantamount to the stopping of the 
importations entirely. The boats very rarely, if indeed at 
any time, are freighted with cattle all belonging to the same 
person : the cargo is therefore mostly comprised of animals 
the property of several individuals, and identity of each, par- 
ticular animal, w hich is necessary for the purposes of trade, 
could scarcely be made under such circumstances; besides, 
he said, a necessity w ould be created for an immediate sale 
of the meat to the injury of the interests of the persons 
sending the animals. He was equally opposed to the esta- 
blishment of a quarantine, and was of opinion that it could 
never be carried into practice, and England continue to re- 
ceive full supplies of foreign cattle. 
The system at present adopted, is for various feeders to 
consign their cattle to salesmen in the London market, w ho, 
as in the home trade, charge a commission on the sales they 
effect. As no animals are brought into Rotterdam coastw ays 
for re-shipment, all consequently have to pass through the 
town to reach the vessels, so that they are thus subjected to 
the general inspection of the local authorities, regulations 
existing to prevent diseased animals from entering into this 
