EDITORIAL. 
155 
ceptions are granted to these measures for thoroughbreds, race¬ 
horses, and animals bought by the State. 
Of course, these wishes are only the expressions of votes 
made at a meeting, and from that to the passage of laws com¬ 
plying with the request. We know by our own experience how 
it is done in the States ; therefore, there is no great need for 
American traders to be afraid. American horses have been 
lately imported extensively into France ; they are liked ; they 
are a success. There is no need to be anxious. 
The reasons presented for the justice of the wish are: 
First. That it is known that American horses have brought 
into France and into England contagious diseases of the greatest 
severity. Second. That French horses are submitted to a quaran¬ 
tine of 90 days in American ports, while none is imposed on 
American products here.” 
Decidedly, we fear that French authorities know but little 
about the sanitary conditions of the live stock in America, and 
probably less of our sanitary measures. We do not know that 
any infectious diseases can have been imported from America to 
European horses, as Europe has already every contagious affec¬ 
tion that we possess. We do know, on the contrary, that France 
but a few years ago sent to America “ dourine ” ; and we are 
not aware of any 90 days’ quarantine to which horses are sub¬ 
mitted. 
The only justifiable excuse for the new protective measure 
is that the enormous increase of importation into France may 
interfere with the raising of horses in that country, and conse¬ 
quently constitute a national and public danger. According to 
statistics, it is stated that during the last six years American 
importations into Europe have been: For 1893, 2500 horses; 
1894, 5000; 1895, 13,500; 1896, 25,000; 1897, 40,000, and 
since the beginning of 1898 more than 20,000. 
It is gratifying to hear that before acting in the matter two 
governmental commissioners have been appointed to go to 
America to study the question at large. A. E. 
