158 REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
surgeon ; besides which they are prevented entering the 
town, unless found to be in a healthy state. These regula- 
tions afford us a certain amount of security against the im- 
portation of diseased animals from this port. The system 
of inspection has been in operation from the commencement 
of the recent outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia in Holstein ; 
but it has been particularly observed since September, 1856, 
when the following proclamation was made by the Senator 
of the Marshlands of the territory of Hamburg : 
Proclamation. 
“Hamburg, 19 th September, 1856. 
w It having been communicated to the Senator of the District of the Marsh- 
lands that in several parts of the Duchy of Holstein a pulmonary disease 
has again broken out among the cattle ; in order to prevent the introduc- 
tion of this dangerous malady, it is hereby ordered that for the present no 
cattle can be brought into the district of the Marshlands from the Duchies 
of Holstein and Lauenburg, without a certificate from the proper local 
authorities, stating that, at the places from whence the same may come, no 
infectious disease prevails among the cattle, and this under a penalty of 
fifty thalers for every case of contravention. 
“ The whole of the bailiffs and subordinates are hereby required particu- 
larly to attend to this order, and obtain observance of the same, and de- 
nounce to the authorities of the Marshlands all who may disobey or attempt 
to disobey the same. 
“ (Signed) Arning, Dr. 
“ Senator for the Marshlands.” 
No cattle intended for the English market are brought into 
Hamburg by the ships from Tonning or the other ports on the 
coast of Denmark, but they go direct from thence to England ; 
nor are many conveyed there for this purpose by means of 
the navigation of the Elbe from Central Germany. “ The 
Order in Council,” at the time of our visit in April, did not 
appear to be understood by the exporters of cattle as to the 
intention of the Government with regard to this port; and 
they refrained at first from shipping cattle, although Ham- 
burg was not named in the prohibition, for fear lest on 
their arrival in England, they should be seized by the Com- 
missioners of Customs. 
We were informed by Colonel Hodges, Consul-General at 
Hamburg, that a similar doubt existed with regard to hides, 
and, further, that the order would be inoperative for good, 
presuming that the seeds of a contagious disease could be 
conveyed by these articles of commerce so long as Hamburg, 
as the port of the Elbe, and Bremen, as the port of the 
Weser, were left open, as large quantities of these commo- 
