I 
28 FACTS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
cattle plague, and also, whether the raising of the cordon that 
now surrounds the Metropolis will or will not, by the free 
dispersion of animals from London as a centre, diffuse 
naturalised contagious diseases throughout the country. As 
a market, the accommodation is superior to anything we have 
ever seen. The Corporation has called to its assistance all the 
talent itcouldcommand—architectural, sanitary, scientific, and 
practical—the result of which leaves nothing to be desired. 
The cost has been great, and what with the purchase of the 
site and erection of the buildings, it cannot be less than 
£200,000. An increase of the tolls in the present market 
will go to make up a portion of the interest on this large 
sum; but, we fear, that as a mere commercial undertaking, it 
cannot pay. This, however, is a matter of minor importance 
when viewed in comparison with the main object sought to 
be attained. An inspector of experience will reside within 
the market area, and nothing will be left undone to cause 
cattle plague to be confined to the spot, should it unfor¬ 
tunately be brought here by the importation of animals from 
plague-stricken countries. 
Our Food Supplies. —At a recent meeting, held at 
Cannon-street Hotel, London, to discuss the question of our 
reserve food supplies in the colonies, and to promote the 
popularisation of tinned Australian meats, it was mentioned 
by Mr. E. Wilson that in the Australian and New r Zealand 
colonies there are at the present time about 60,000,000 sheep 
and 5,000,000 cattle. It is calculated that one-fourth of this 
enormous aggregate should be available annually as surplus 
stock, to be slain for food. This, at 50 lbs. weight per sheep 
and 700 lbs. per bullock, would give about 750,000 tons weight 
of animal food. If this were disposed of in England at 6d. 
per pound, it would represent a trade of nearly £42,000,030 
sterling. Yet, fabulous as these figures may seem, this vast 
supply would only represent abont lib. of meat per head per 
week of the population of the United Kingdom. 
White Horses. —The French Minister of War has 
decided that in future white or dappled-gray horses shall not 
be employed in military service, the experience of the late 
war having proved that animals of such colours offer an ex¬ 
cellent mark for the enemy’s artillery. White horses being 
regarded by the veterinary profession of France as lymphatic 
were condemned during the siege as unsuited for human con¬ 
sumption.— Times. 
The Metropolitan Great Cattle-Market Re¬ 
turns. —The following return, showing the number of 
