PLEUKO-PNEUMONTA. 
543 
firstly, in reference to the asserted failure of the Slaughter 
Order. Some time since, in referring to the suppression of 
pleuro-pneumonia, I made a statement to the effect that “ if I 
were given a free hand I would undertake to eradicate the 
disease from these islands within the space of two years,” bu- 
in making this statement I had in contemplation a very differ¬ 
ent method of dealing with the disease than that now in vogue. 
So far as it goes, the Order is radical enough in its aims, but 
it fails grievously in several essential points, which those 
amongst you who heard my remarks on the subject in this 
place, at the time the Slaughter Order was promulgated, will 
remember I directed attention to in the short address I gave 
on sanitation. 
Concealing Outbreaks. 
The Order in its present form deals only with revealed or 
known centers of the disease ; it says nothing as to the discov¬ 
ery of these centers, nor does it take any steps towards the 
attainment of this end; in fact, according to some, it favors 
the concealment of these centers, and in reference to this view 
of the case I would ask, are there any measures that could be 
devised that would effectually put an end to attempts at con¬ 
cealment ? I have known the disease for the past thirty-two 
years, and without egotism, I may say have had opportunities 
of becoming acquainted with it which have been enjoyed by 
few practitioners now living in this country. I say I have 
known the disease for thirty-two years, and during the whole 
of that time—when there were no measures in force relating 
to it, when there was only restriction and compensation, and 
on through the period over which the Slaughter Order has 
extended—the feeling has existed amongst a certain class of 
stock owners that they were justified in concealing the ex¬ 
istence of the disease for their own selfish purposes; and 
this feeling has not only existed in reference to pleuro-pneu¬ 
monia, it existed in connection with cattle plague, foot and 
mouth disease, and sheep scab, and it exists now in connect 
tion with swine fever, glanders and anthrax ; and will continue 
to exist so long as the world lasts and selfish people live in it 
