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and I have repeatedly been desired to come forward and advocate 
the plan. 
But, so far from thinking it desirable, I believe it would do 
little good, and be so highly objectionable for various reasons, that 
I feel no doubt that our Board of Agriculture have acted very wisely 
in refusing, when applied to, to issue any such order. 
It is possible, and easy, for a cattle-owner who has his herd 
constantly under supervision, and likewise whose men or boys 
are so well known to the cattle as not to alarm the animals by 
investigating the state of the hides, to have the maggots squeezed 
out, or requisite dressings applied every few days, and thus by 
repeated work the maggots will be cleared. But it is utterly useless 
to suppose the maggots can be got rid of by one attempt at clearance; 
others will presently show in warbles not then 11 ripe," and the 
effect of the police perpetually hunting in the hair for warbles 
(which would be necessary if the inspection is to do good) would 
be very injurious to the animals, and a most annoying intrusion to 
the owner. 
Under ordinary circumstances I should not think myself justified 
in offering my opinion on the above point, but I have been so urgently 
pressed to advocate compulsory action that I have no hesitation in 
saying that I think all cattle-owners should be on the alert, and, if 
there was danger of such a thing occurring, that by earnest petition 
or by any other means lawfully in their power, they should protest 
against any such oppressive, compulsory interference with their 
property. 
Also (and from circumstances brought under my own notice), I 
would advise farmers and cattle-owners to be very much on their 
guard against influence being brought to bear locally to the above 
end, by people whose own end is not the alleged benefit to the cattle 
or the country, but simply to put money in their own pockets by 
sale of mixtures which are not in the slightest degree more useful 
than many applications or methods of treatment which are almost 
costless, and are at hand, or can be carried out without delay. 
At present we seem to be just in the condition described by the 
late Prof. Piiley, Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture of 
the U.S.A., when, after the widespread American investigation in 
1889, he was requested to take up the question officially. After 
some observations on the bearing of the subject, in which he greatly 
noticed our British observations and recommendations, he closed 
his paper with this sentence :—“ Being thoroughly familiar with 
the stock-interests of the country, we know how difficult it is to get 
