'Tae loiter we published the other day from a Correspondent signing himself "Sanitas' dealt with " question of the very first importance to us as com. inanity. It will be remembered that a fow months ago a certain degree of excitement was caused by the discovery that cattle-disease had been some time prevalent in our midst, and the public were anxious to know how it was that the fact had not been communicated to them through the weekly official channels. he particulars now placed at our disposal, however,—the actual and unexaggerated truth of which is vouched for by our contributor—disclose a far more serious state of things thaw any one had had reason to ima "Little information," writes was given in the Inspector's reports, and that generally of a rosy hue. And such reports wore of a reassuring nature when the fell disease was busiest at work, Why and for what reasons was better information not given?"—We think the public have a right to demand an answer to this question. The letter of 'Sanita' places the Municipal authorities on their defence, and a thorough inva gation is required into the whole matter.
Tt may be as well, now that the subject has been thus urged upon our notice, to pass in review the facts that have been brought forward. Ib appenra that the disease was imported last July by certain country-people bringing in a lot of cattle for a butcher at Pah-sin-jao. It soon made itself apparent, and spread among the stock of other butchers quartered at the same place, increasing and raging until the 10th August or thereabouts, when things began to better themselves a little, At this time the public were unaware that anything of the sort existed, No reference was made to it in the weekly official reports, and when a correspondent ventured mildly to hint that the Farm was not altogether free, the proprietor wrote angry and abusive letters to the press, denying the imputation with as much heat as if it bad been a criminal charge. We are now told, what, indeed, we know all along, that "the Farm lost severely." Other dairies suffered even more, the complaint extending to the buffaloes, while some dairymen lost every head of stock that they possessed, Tt Uns been said that as long as the Inspector reports favourably upon the ment exposed for sale it is not needful for us to trouble ourselves about the healthiness or otherwise of the live stock. We are assured, however, that such is by no menus the case, As soon as a bullock has refused its food, it affords proof of being past the first stage of the disease; yet if it be bled and killed with promptness, the ment may be sent to the market and exposed for sale without the slightest suspicion of unsoundness being excited by its appearance, If this be
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.