EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
715 
matter, and have appointed W. Lyall, Esq., M.L.A., and 
Alexander Brock, Esq., as commissioners, to make full 
inquiries into the disease, and to enter into the necessary 
arrangements with the owners of any cattle that may become 
affected, for allowing them some compensation for the im¬ 
mediate destruction of all such stock. 
u As yet the disease has proved purely local in its extent, 
but within that extent, the effects have been so disastrous 
as to create almost a panic amongst neighbouring farmers. 
Near Preston, about six miles N.E. of Melbourne, on Mr. 
Hooper's farm, an investigation has taken place into the state 
of the cattle affected with this disease. Out of 124, nine have 
died, one has been slaughtered in an advanced stage of 
the disease, and it is surmised that all the rest are more 
or less affected by it. With regard to the disposal of them 
we believe that an understanding has already been arrived 
at, and now only aw 7 aits the approval of the government. 
Upon this being obtained, the whole of the stock will be 
slaughtered, Mr. Hooper being compensated at the rate of 
£o per head (the full value of them), Mr. Hooper to find all 
the labour, and to act under the superintendence of some 
person appointed by the government. 
cc As the matter is one of interest to English readers, we sub¬ 
join a pre-mortuary and post-mortem examination of the 
beast belonging to Mr. Hooper before referred to, made by 
competent authorities on the spot. Previous to being- 
slaughtered she was subjected to a careful examination by 
Mr. Miscamble, who stated that her right lung was perfectly 
useless— f as silent as the grave;’ and on striking the ribs 
with the hand, there was not the natural hollow 7 sound pro¬ 
duced, but one similar to that experienced in striking a bag 
of flour. The left lung w as stated to be diseased, though still 
able to perform its duty so far as to keep the animal alive. 
“ Upon opening the animal after death, the appearances 
were as follows:—A white glutinous mucus lined the inside 
of the windpipe ; the right lung w 7 as swollen to an enormous 
size, three or four times larger than its natural dimensions, and 
had lost all the normal characteristics of that organ, having 
become as firm and compact as a piece of beef, and streaked 
and variegated in colour like a piece of marble. The left lung 
was also diseased, as numerous depositions had taken place 
in it, but it did not appear to be so much enlarged as the other. 
The heart was thin and flaccid, but this w^as to be expected 
as a natural consequence following the disease of the lungs, 
and the defective circulation arising therefrom. The liver 
was also diseased, and abounded with large flukes in the 
