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36
removed to the horse-slaughterer's, without being
opened, in small carts which could not adequately
contain them. In the City of London there are
slaughter-houses where all the diseased animals of
the neighbourhood are killed, and so reckless was
the practice of disposing of the dung and offal,
that having no power to check it, I felt it my duty
to draw your attention to it, and to report on the
necessity for the appointment of proper places for
the destruction of diseased cattle, where the flesh
and offal might be thoroughly disinfected. That
report was communicated to the Privy Council,
but the only result of it was a letter asking for
information as to the localities best suited for
the purpose, and for a description of the process,
I would recommend for disinfection. This
information was at once offered, but to this moment
there has been no practical use of it; and the dead
and dying animals are still disposed of at the
knackers' yards and public slaughter-houses. The
process of disinfection which the veterinary department
of the Privy Council has recommended,
when the carcass cannot be buried, is so singularly
unsuitable, and withal so ineffectual, that I hope
it has not often been practised. The letter describing
it, is dated October last, and it contains
the following instructions for the inspectors:—"If
there be no convenient place for burial in the
immediate neighbourhood, and if the carcass