222 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY GE ENGLAND. 
they have not failed to direct special attention to this subject, 
as well as to urge such a modification of the Society's rules 
which apply to the obtainment of the professor's services, as 
to lead to their being simplified; and they learn with great 
satisfaction that their recommendation has not only been 
entertained by the Council, but that in due course it will be 
carried into practice. A very limited number of cattle and 
sheep have been received into the infirmary for treatment, 
and the Governors cannot help reiterating their surprise at 
the apathy which prevails so generally among agriculturists 
to avail themselves of the privileges they possess in this 
respect as members of the Society. 
Annual Meeting. — xLt the meeting which took place 
at Canterbury both Professor Spooner and Professor Simonds 
were in attendance as veterinary inspectors, and the Go¬ 
vernors have observed with very great pleasure that in this 
effort of theirs to render benefit they have succeeded to the 
satisfaction of the Society. The rigid examination to which 
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all the animals are now subjected is gradually lessening the 
number of incorrect returns with reference to their age, and 
correcting also the abuse of sending for exhibition those 
which are the subjects of hereditary disease. The examina¬ 
tion of the horses has, however, often been less satisfactory 
to the inspector than he could desire, arising chiefly from 
the limited means at his disposal; and the Governors doubt 
not that, at the approaching meeting at Leeds, any increased 
facilities he may require, by a modified arrangement of the 
sheds, so as to set apart one exclusively for his use, and the 
supplying him with practical assistance in his investigations 
into the soundness of the animals, will be readilv granted bv 
the Council. 
Prevalent Diseases. —Apart from ordinary diseases, 
the chief maladies of a serious nature which have prevailed 
among cattle have been pleuro-pneumonia and epizootic 
eczema, commonly known as “ the mouth and foot disease;" 
while among sheep, at the early part of the year, chronic 
diseases of the lungs, resulting from the existence of worms 
(jilarice) within the bronchial tubes during the preceding 
autumn, proved very destructive. No doubt but the fatality 
of this disease was greatly added to by the long-continued 
wet weather and low temperature which prevailed. It is, 
however, to be feared that these same causes have had even 
a far greater injurious effect on the health of sheep, in pro¬ 
ducing that fatal malady which is commonly known by the 
name of “rot.’' At the present time this destructive disease 
is wider spread than has been the case for many T years; and 
in several of the western counties it is to be feared, from the 
