694 
INAUGURAL ADDRESS. 
carelessness to this higher responsibility; an error of judg¬ 
ment ; a misapprehension of the true character of the disease 
with which we have to contend, may be a source of im¬ 
measurable public suffering—suffering not the less actual 
because it may escape immediate observation and detection. 
But to show this more fully—since if here we might find 
our greatest condemnation, so here we may discover our 
highest honour, not only as a profession but as individuals. 
Soon after the cholera of 1832 had ceased its ravages, a most 
fatal epizootic, which had previously prevailed in many parts 
of the continent, appeared among the swine in this country, 
but more particularly in Ireland. This affection continued 
many years in the latter country, now showing itself in one 
district, now in another—now prevailing with a less, now with 
a greater, degree of malignity. The pig is one of the chief 
sources of wealth and the chiefest source of animal diet 
among the Irish peasantry. But the recurring outbreaks of 
the epizootic referred to almost annihilated the animal. 
Again, Ireland is, as I need scarcely tell you, a great cattle- 
breeding country. Here, as in England in 1842, the deadly 
pulmonary disease, known as pleuro-pneumonia, which had 
so long devastated the herds of the continent, also made its 
appearance, and for several years did incalculable mischief. 
Moreover, in 1843 the rot proved most destructive among 
sheep in Ireland, and fowls also suffered largely from an 
epizootic affection. During these visitations cattle and sheep 
also suffered more or less extensively from the vesicular 
disease of the mouth and feet. This malady, although 
not very fatal in its progress, still proved highly detrimental 
to both flocks and herds. 
It was at a time, then, when the great staple articles of 
animal food of the Irish peasantry had been well-nigh de¬ 
stroyed—when the chief source of disposable wealth of large 
numbers had been rendered well-nigh worthless—when tire 
bulk of the agricultural and operative classes were suffering 
from the gradually developed, but not less sure, effects of an 
impoverished diet, long continued,—that the great failure of 
the potato crop occurred, one of a series of events in the 
vegetable world similar to those observed in the animal. The 
awful famine and pestilence which followed stand almost 
alone, in their sad consequences in the history of Europe in 
modern times; and that “disruption of the social condition 
of the nation 5- ’ (as Mr. Wilde has well phrased it) which these 
evils gave rise to, has left traces which even at this date may 
be clearly distinguished. Nearly sixteen millions sterling is the 
estimated value of the produce which was destroyed; out 
