The returns of the cattle plague are this week more
satis- factory. There is still an increase, but the ratio is slower. The rise between 18th and 25th ult. was 38 per cent., but between 25th ult. and 2nd inst. barely 6 per cent. The positive num- ber of attacks was 3,828. The only novel fact reported this week comes from the Consul-General of Odessa, who says the peasants of the Taurida believe the disease to originate in the bite of a black spider very common there, and very deadly. To this the Pall Mall Gazette objects that no venomous insect is known to inflict contagious disease on its victim. A new remedy is also mentioned as used in Turkey, apparently the preparation of hemp known popularly as hasheesh. It is very easy to try that, as every farmer can mash up common hemp seed such as he gives his birds, and it may be worth trying, as the stimulus afforded by the drug to the nervous system is very great.
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