42 
THE VETERINARIAN, JANUARY 1, 18S0. 
Ne quid falsi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat.—C icero. 
THE SMITHFIELD CLUB EXHIBITION OF STOCK. 
It has been more than once remarked that the various 
exhibitions of stock and agricultural produce do not afford 
any evidence of the depression under which agriculture has 
been for some time past, and is now, suffering. Indeed, it 
is clear enough that the owners, and not the animals, are 
the victims ; and it is hardly necessary to point to flourishing 
cattle, sheep, and swine, in proof of the proposition that, in 
spite of severe seasons, and the extensive prevalence of dis¬ 
eases which depend on atmospheric and climatic influences, 
animals which are protected from such influences escape the 
consequences. 
In accordance with the usual practice at exhibitions of 
the Smithfield Club, all the animals which were sent for 
exhibition were inspected in the yard previously to entering 
the Agricultural Hall. This precaution was the more 
necessary, as the restriction upon the entrance of animals 
which had been at other exhibitions at any time within a 
fortnight had been rescinded, and a considerable number of 
stock arrived in consequence from the Birmingham exhibi¬ 
tion, which ends just in time for the opening of the Smith- 
field Show. 
No signs of contagious disease were observed by the 
inspectors during the examination of the stock, and on 
Saturday evening all the animals were in their places. 
During the week of the exhibition the temperature was 
generally low, and on two occasions a dense fog prevailed 
and caused some apprehension. Many of the visitors would 
recall the events which happened in 1873 when, owing to 
the occurrence of a fog of singular pungency and density, 
over ninety cattle were suffocated, or suffered so much from 
symptoms of suffocation, that it was necessary to remove 
them for slaughter as quickly as possible. 
