224 
EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
malady in Australia, clearly traceable as it is to the introduc¬ 
tion of a diseased animal, is of itself sufficient to prove this 
position. 
It will be remembered that about a vear since we 
contrasted the state of the sanitary laws enforced on the 
J 
continent as applied to pleuro-pneumonia with those existing 
here, and showed the impropriety of our being left without 
protection. It is true that an attempt was then made to intro¬ 
duce a bill into Parliament to provide for this defect, but to the 
surprise of every one it was withdrawn, after evidence had 
been obtained from both practical agriculturists and scien¬ 
tific men, which proved beyond all disputation the necessity 
of the measure. We are free to admit that the question is 
surrounded with difficulties, but we cannot therefore find 
any justification for our making no effort for its removal. 
Soon we hope to see agriculturists move in this matter, and 
do something beyond the recounting of their losses from ex¬ 
tensive ravages of disease among their cattle and sheep over 
the market table. 
Let steps be taken to register these losses, with a view to 
their being made public. Surely no practical difficulty lies 
in the way of this being done. Once accomplished this, 
and all the rest will certainly follow. The governmental 
part of the machinery is at hand, for the Board of Health 
still exists, although under a new name and with somewhat 
modified functions. To this could easily be added a veteri¬ 
nary section, for the issuing of proper forms, receiving returns, 
and the carrying into practice such sanitary measures as 
are indispensably necessary to preserve the health of those 
animals which furnish food and clothing to our people. To 
this subject we shall, at some future time, return. 
