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EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
ment a fortnight ago. It is established, and is now admitted 
by him, that three fourths of the cases i are from the Western 
States by way of Boston. The last Blue-book, it must be 
remembered, bristles with evidence that information of cases 
is deliberately suppressed in America, from mercenary 
motives ; it is felt how much is at stake. There is too much 
reason to fear that even the West has already received a 
guest she may find it hard to get rid of, and may have to 
fight a serious question for herself, instead of quarrelling 
about it with England. We trust not, but Dr. Lyman’s 
report home is terribly significant, and would not be made 
on light grounds; and a letter we published last week, 
which, if we could give the name of the writer, would 
appeal with special force to the breeders of America, is 
another proof that even Americans who can study the ques¬ 
tion fairly in England are amongst those most convinced of 
the gravity of the case. 
“ 3. Stress is laid on the f few’ cases—only 137, it is said, 
all last year. It is forgotten that virtually the entire cargoes 
were infected in which these came, amounting to many 
thousands; and, still more, it is forgotten that there were 
more cases in six months this year then in twelve months last 
year. In plain words, the disease of pleuro-pneumonia in 
America, so far as can be judged from imported cargoes, has 
more than doubled since twelve months ago. This has a sig¬ 
nificance for us, of course; but we really think it has a far 
deeper meaning for our American friends. It is they who 
are most concerned, as they will ere long find. But we are 
concerned also. This week again we hear of three fresh out¬ 
breaks in Lancashire; and that this county remains the 
chief hot-bed and centre of disease is too plainly connected 
with its proximity to the great American depot, even pro¬ 
tected as it is by the present orders. As soon as we get 
nearly rid of pleuro, from Lancashire again the contagion 
spreads, tending to show that even yet we hardly understand 
how to be strict enough in guarding against infection. 
“ 4. Lastly, however, strong complaints are made that 
America is f nearly’ free from the disease, but that England 
