234 
CATTLE DISEASES. 
November, 4; December, 1 ; January, 1864, 2; February, 0; 
making in all 51 cases in ten months, but only ten during 
the last five months.” 
On referring to the list alluded to I find no less than 
11,310 beasts insured, and 150 calves, making a total of 
11,460, among which, as we see, there have been only 51 
cases of lung disease during ten months ; or, speaking in 
general terms, only five cases a month in this large number 
of animals. 
Trusting that these facts may tend to place the matter of 
cattle diseases in its true light, and somewhat allay the 
excitement in the public mind on this question, 
I beg to remain your obedient servant, 
J. B. Simonds, Professor of Cattle Pathology 
March 5. to the Royal Veterinary College. 
CATTLE DISEASES. 
{From the ( North British Agriculturist/ March 16, 1864.) 
“ Sir, —My friend Professor Dick has just informed me 
that he has received an official communication from the 
Government, to the effect that steppe-murrain has made its 
appearance among the cattle in Schleswig, and as this intelli- 
gence, when made public, will be apt to add more fuel to the 
undue excitement already existing with regard to the subject 
of cattle disease—excitement, or rather panic, which I cannot 
help thinking, owes much of its morbid influence to the ac¬ 
tivity and ingenuity of sensation-mongers and alarmists, I 
have taken the liberty of asking you to give insertion in your 
journal to a few remarks from my note-book on what I have 
seen of this class of maladies in two campaigns—one in 
the Crimea, the other in China. 
I trust that they may tend, w T ith the publication of the 
practical experience of others, to allay the very disquieting 
apprehensions which weigh so heavily on the public mind, 
that seemingly nothing will suffice to reassure it but severe 
legislation, and the adoption of extreme measures which, en¬ 
forced, would weigh heavily on stock proprietors, obstruct the 
interests of commerce, and would prove a great detriment to 
the general welfare of agriculture, besides proving a constant 
source of grievance and fraud—results the very opposite of 
those sought to be attained. 
It is an undoubted fact that want of cleanliness, exposure 
