238 
CATTLE DISEASES. 
those specially interested in cattle diseases of a specific 
nature, a few facts and observations from somewhat hurriedly 
taken notes, and while believing that it is the duty of every 
one concerned to do his best to promote the interests of the 
community by endeavouring to suppress the sale of what are 
really diseased beasts, or in checking the desire of the un¬ 
scrupulous to dispose of that which is unfit for human food, 
yet I am inclined to the opinion that there is a good deal of 
unwarrantable fuss, and what plain-spoken people would 
term “ humbug/’ added to strong exaggeration of facts, and 
great imaginary evils, mixed up with what undoubtedly is 
truth and matter for investigation in the epizootic, which 
were certainly known and wide-spread, years before they 
were supposed to be fraught with such danger to the con¬ 
sumers of animal food, as has been represented. 
I do think that this so-called pressing danger is question¬ 
able until it can be shown that it really exists, and until a 
certain number of well-attested facts prove it to be so. Many 
of those reputed contagious diseases which are supposed to 
contaminate to an injurious degree the flesh of the animals 
affected by them, and which give inspiration to the imagina¬ 
tions and speeches of our public-spirited men, are not so 
dangerous as they would fain have us believe. For example, 
aphtha, or foot-and-mouth illness, is a simple disease, the 
contagious nature of which is yet a matter of doubt with 
some of the best authorities, and the speedy cure of which, 
by the adoption of easy hygienic measures, is a popular fact, 
and does not impair to anything like an injurious degree the 
nutritive value of the flesh. Surely, then, such a trifling 
illness need not call for such alarm, or deserve such stringent 
laws. If legislation interfere at all, it ought only to be to 
warn proprietors of the existence of the disease, and to 
suggest simple measures for its limitation and suppression. 
The innocuousness of'the flesh of sheep suffering from 
variola ovina , or “ sheep-pox,” when used as food, is a posi¬ 
tive fact. But I need not extend this letter to any greater 
length by offering examples which are numerous enough, 
and which would only go to prove that there is not so much 
need for very active legislative interference as the terror- 
stricken or zealously patriotic would have us suppose. 
I am, &c., 
George Fleming, V.S., F.R.G.S. : F.iV.S.L., 
“ King’s Own” Hussars. 
