410 ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 
however, it is eminently desirable that we should know the true 
state of the case as regards the whole of the metropolis, and I 
respectfully submit that the Local Authority might be invited to 
publish a return, or that such a return might be asked for in the 
House of Commons. 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 
Monthly Council, Wednesday, May 5th, 1880. Present—The Duke 
of Bedford (President) in the chair. 
VETERINARY COMMITTEE. 
General Viscount Bridport reported that Professor Simonds had pre¬ 
sented to the Committee the following report, by Professor Axe, on an 
outbreak of disease in a herd of cattle, the property of J. B. Lawes, 
Esq., Rothamsted Park : 
On the 10th of March I visited Rothamsted Park, and inquired into 
the circumstances relating to an outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia and 
anthrax. Mr. Lawes’ herd consists principally of shorthorns, among 
which were forty-six milch cows and seventeen bullocks. The maladies 
have up to this time been confined to these portions of the herd. The 
milch cows were divided into two lots, of forty and six respectively, and 
they occupied two sheds standing right and left of an open yard in which 
the seventeen bullocks were confined. All the cows excepting four had 
been in Mr. Lawes’ possession for periods varying from eight months to 
two years. The four animals referred to had been purchased between 
the middle of February and the 25th of March last, and were at the 
time of my visit free from disease. It should be mentioned in reference 
to these cows that, in the course of my inquiry, I was informed that one 
of them had been purchased in a district where pleuro-pneumonia is 
reported to have recently existed. An examination of this particular 
beast, however, failed to develop any indications of pulmonary or other 
disease. 
The seventeen bullocks were purchased in Ireland in December last, 
and had occupied the yard adjoining the cow-sheds since the beginning 
of February. All of them, excepting one, were on the day of my visit 
healthy. The animal referred to was reported as having been generally 
unthrifty, and to have made only slight growth and improvement in 
condition, since his arrival at Bothamsted. Disease was first recognised 
on the 28th of March in one of the lot of forty cows, and was at that 
time regarded as a common cold, and treated accordingly. On the 5th 
of April this cow died, and Mr. Edwards, veterinary surgeon, of St. 
Alban’s, after a careful post-mortem examination pronounced the disease 
to be pleuro-pneumonia. The second case occurred on the 29th of 
March, and was destroyed on the 6th of April. The third case appeared 
suddenly on the morning of the first-named date, after the cow had 
partaken of a full meal, and the animal died the same evening, having 
in the meantime exhibited acute symptoms of choking. The fourth case 
was seen on the 6th of April, and was destroyed the following morning. 
The fifth case was observed on the evening of the 9th, and was found 
dead on the morning of the 10th. Mr. Edwards made a post-mortem 
examination of this cow, and failed to recognise the lesions of pleuro- 
