62 
EDITORIAL. 
ship arrived when the English inspector was not present, in that case the cattle 
were driven in a certain lairage and there kept under lock and key, in charge of 
the customs officials, and no one allowed to enter the lairs until the cattle were 
inspected, which consisted in the cattle being driven from pen to pen in as near 
single file as possible. 
This system of inspection was kept up until October 1st, 1892, when it was 
substituted for a system whereby all lungs taken from American cattle were 
collected and carried to a house set apart for the purpose of receiving them, for 
the veterinarian’s inspection, in addition to seeing the cattle when they were un¬ 
loaded, or very soon after. 
Owing to the expense, this latter system was abolished and the old system 
renewed on the first day of February, 1893. As the expense was only fifteen 
dollars a week, there is an apparent queer circumstance connected with the 
system of inspection that was established on October 1st, 1892, as follows: 
There had not been a case of alleged contagious pleuro-pneumonia found in 
American cattle between February 17th, and October 13th, 1892, a period of 
very nearly eight months. During that time the United States Minister had 
made several demands for the raising of the restrictions against the American 
cattle; he was invariably met with the reply from the English authorities: “ We 
are not satisfied whether contagious pleuro-pneumonia exists in the United 
States or not.” On the 26th day of September, 1892, the Hon. J. M. Rusk 
issued a proclamation that contagious pleuro-pneumonia was totally eradicated 
from the United States. As soon as the news of this proclamation reached this 
country, the new system was established and continued during the fall and 
winter; now that spring and good weather is approaching they have abolished 
the system, showing very conclusively that the English authorities do not ex¬ 
pect to find these so-called cases of contagious pleuro-pneumonia during good 
weather. 
The system of inspection that I have followed since my arrival, is to inspect 
the cattle on arrival, again in the lairs when they are tied up and previous to 
sale, besides seeing a great many slaughtered. 
The American veterinarian will compare very favorably with bis English 
cousin, notwithstanding the fact that American Veterinary diplomas are not 
recognized in this country. I cannot compare the veterinarians of America and 
England any better than to quote the old phrase of “by their works ye shall 
know them,” and describe the actions of the official veterinarians connected 
with the American and English governments, in connection with the cases of 
alleged contagious pleuro-pneumonia that has been landed in this country. 
On February 4th, 1890, a dead bull, per steamer Sorrento, from New York, was 
landed at Deptford. The following day a post mortem examination was held, 
which revealed interstitial pneumonia of the posterior lobe of the right lung. 
As this case was diagnosed by the English experts as a very well marked case of 
contagious pleuro-pneumonia, sections were immediately taken to Professor 
Williams, of Edinburgh, who, with his son, upheld the opinions of Drs. J. E. 
and J. F. Ryder, Melvin and myself, that the disease was not contagious pleuro¬ 
pneumonia. These same sections were subsequently shown to Professors Bow- 
hill and Hunter, who coincided with the diagnosis made by the American vet¬ 
erinarians and Professor Williams. 
