413 
CATTLE PLAGUE. 
In France the ee bovine pest” bids fair to become a chronic 
affliction. Month by month we have to record the existence 
of the disease, with but little alteration of details. 
We learn from the Journal Officiel that a’ discussion took 
place in the latter part of April, in the National Assembly, 
respecting the continued prevalence of the plague in the 
Departments Nord and Somme, and it seem to have tran¬ 
spired, in the course of the debate, that some delay had taken 
place in the payment of compensation for animals slaugh¬ 
tered by order of the authorities; consequent on this neg¬ 
lect the farmers became apprehensive of losing beasts and 
money, and accordingly did their best to conceal outbreaks of 
disease on their farms, in order that they might submit the 
sick animals to treatment, in the hope of saving some of them, 
while they sold the cattle which had been in contact with 
diseased ones to those dealers who, in all countries, appear 
to be ready to buy without asking any questions. In this 
manner, it is alleged, the disease was carried to seven com¬ 
munes in the north simultaneously. 
In our report last month we stated that seven communes 
in theDepartement du Nord were infected; the number has 
now increased to twelve, and this in spite of the measures of 
repression which have been adopted—measures which, we 
took occasion to remark, did not accord with the English 
notion of “ energetic.” 
Belgium continues to enjoy an immunity which, under the 
circumstances, is remarkable, and which is only secured by 
constant watchfulness. The Journal Agricole du Brabant 
every week denounces, in strong terms, the apathy which 
prevails across the frontier. 
Bussian Poland is reported to be free from rinderpest, and 
in consequence of the cessation of the disease the Official 
Gazette of East and West Prussia has announced that the pro¬ 
hibition of the imports of cattle and certain other articles of 
commerce from those provinces is rescinded. The exemption, 
however, it is distinctly stated, does not extend to Steppe cattle. 
PLEUBO-PNEUMONIA. 
Holland has suffered rather severely from this malady 
during the spring. In four weeks, up to the middle of April, 
