330 
REPORT ON THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
blood-vessels are but slightly injected. The pulse is not weaker 
than yesterday, but upon the whole a little more distinct. The ears, 
horns, and extremities are still a little warm. The animal takes a small 
quantity of water, and appears to be free from any acute pain.* 
* The Commissioners decided to-day upon slaughtering the remain¬ 
ing eight animals in the quarantine, as two or three of them were 
giving indications of approaching illness. They also had in view the 
raising of the cordon at an earlier date than it otherwise could be, sup¬ 
posing the malady was allowed to take its ordinary course ; for, as else¬ 
where stated, it has to he maintained for twenty-one days after the death 
or the killing of the last animal. The chief object in keeping up the 
cordon for this length of time is to prevent the possibility of a fresh 
outbreak. No newly-purchased cattle are therefore allowed to come 
on the farm, nor is any labourer, or other person, permitted to leave 
it. No straw or fodder of any kind can be removed : in fact, all the 
details are as rigorously enforced during these three weeks as while the 
disease exists. 
The resolve of the Commissioners afforded us the opportunity of 
witnessing the form of valuing the cattle for slaughtering' on the part of 
Government, their real value being greater than the estimated one. 
For this purpose a jury of three persons was summoned, consisting of 
the Burgomaster of the village and two other inhabitants conversant 
with the worth of cattle. They were not, however, allowed to come 
within 200 paces of the line of the cordon . The non-medical commis¬ 
sioner, M. Rucki, took his seat at a table placed on the line, and being 
furnished with writing materials, noted every particular of the trans¬ 
action. The cattle were then brought one by one to within a short 
distance of the Commissioner, to be inspected by the jury, who asked a 
great variety of questions relating to their age, breed, and use for 
feeding, milking, or working purposes; which being satisfactorily 
answered, they made their award. 
The first, a young heifer, was valued at about, £ s. 
in English money 4 0 
The second, also a heifer do. 4 0 
The third, a milking cow do. 7 0 
The fourth, a young steer do. 3 6 
The fifth, an older steer do. 4 18 
The sixth, a young bull do. 4 0 
The seventh and eighth, two heifers do. 8 16 
Total.£36 0 
The skins of the animals were next valued at eight shillings each for 
the larger ones, and six shillings the smaller, which sums, we were in¬ 
formed, would be deducted from the gross amount; the proprietor 
being allowed to dispose of them as he thought fit, after they had under¬ 
gone a disinfecting process, under the immediate superintendence of the 
Commissioners. This part of the ceremony being ended, the animals 
were led away to be slaughtered and buried, when the jury were per¬ 
mitted to approach the table to sign their award. One only of the three 
could write, namely, the Burgomaster, and he received authority to sign 
for the others. The appearance of these men was certainly picturesque, 
if not very prepossessing. They were very scantily clad, having on 
