EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
43 
No satisfactory explanation was given at the time of the 
peculiar atmospheric condition which led to this fatality. It 
did not occur to any one to collect some of the mist for exa¬ 
mination, and it remains doubtful what caused the serious 
effects which were experienced in the Agricultural Hall and 
many of the dairy sheds in the neighbourhood. Fogs of 
equal density have occurred repeatedly since that time, but 
it has not transpired that the slightest injury has been done 
to cows in the London sheds, or to cattle at preceding 
Smithfield shows. 
Almost immediately after the last of the animals had 
entered the Hall on the Saturday preceding the opening of 
the last exhibition a dense cold fog penetrated the building, 
and on the following morning several cattle were suffering 
from oppression of the breathing ; the symptoms of distress, 
however, soon passed off. On the following Thursday the 
fog was again very dense in the early morning, and con¬ 
tinued till mid-day, but no harm resulted; and it was 
remarked on the last day of the show that all the animals 
were looking exceedingly well. 
The cases of illness during the time of the show were few 
and trifling in character, and only two animals were removed 
for slaughter owing to ordinary congestion of lungs, to which 
plethoric animals are especially subject. 
No outbreak of contagious disease occurred among the 
exhibited animals, and the arrangements which had been 
made by the local authority for dealing with diseased ani¬ 
mals were happily rendered unnecessary. 
Consolidation of Orders of Council relating to 
Diseases of Animals. —We may remind our readers that the 
Animals Order which was passed on December 15th ult., and 
is now (January 1, 1880) in force, consolidates all the pre¬ 
vious orders relating to diseases and transit of animals. The 
only other orders in force are the Dairies and Milkshops 
Order, and certain orders relating to ports and others of 
purely local significance. 
