The Civil Veterinary Service on Java, Netherlands East-Indies, was established in 1853, more than 20 years after the introduction of the Cultivation System. During the 19th century its tasks were directed at the survey of livestock, esp. its health. Despite the fact that the number of veterinarians was far from enough, the communications problematic, and the optimal functioning of the Service assailed by infrastructional shortcomings, the CVS managed to carry out--in a relatively short period--a great deal of significant work. The CVS sometimes misjudged the situation completely, e.g. after the outbreak of rinderpest in 1878, that was a major catastrophe. The Dutch laws pertaining to the fight against this diseases were enforced in the Netherlands East-Indies. Agriculture suffered from the ban on moving cattle, cattle suffered from a feed shortage and cattle owners suffered from financial and emotional damage. Although it is impossible to determine exactly the influence of the adopted measures on the course of the epizootic, there are indications that the damages were aggravated through governmental interference.