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to believe that the disease was incurable, and veterinary
and other charlatans encouraged, either through gross
ignorance, or for their own ends, this unbelief; the
papers also, with scarcely an exception, took the same
side with all the noisy vigour of ignorance and irresponsibility.
The disease consequently, instead of being
strangled in its infancy as was done on its introduction from
this country into Paris, was allowed to spread like wildfire
throughout the length and breadth of the land, until
thousands qf cattle, and millions of property were sacrificed,
and dearly bought experience proved even to the
editors of journals the truth of those principles which had
been the subject of their ridicule. Under the advice of the
Commissioners, appointed by Government, precautions
have since been taken, which have arrested in great
measure the progress of the disease, and which there is
reason to believe will ere long bring it to an end. The
plague committed great devastation in London, and even
in the parish of Camberwell. I may add, that although
principally a disease of cattle, it affects (but in a less
degree) other ruminants, such as sheep, deer, and goats.
Yet notwithstanding these plagues, and rumours of
plagues, the year was, as I have already stated it to be,
essentially a healthy year; the mortality was, as I have
pointed out, not high; zymotic diseases were not very
fatal; and the epidemics which I have just enumerated,
though they threatened, and in some instances, attacked
this country, in no case originated here. They were all
of foreign origin.