PROCEEDIXGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS. 23 



■fact by every one — that foot-and-mouth disease had not a spontaneous origin, and was 

 not indigenous to the country, that if they were once free from it — and they were once 

 free from it in 1880 — if they had not got it again from abroad they would have been 

 still free from it, and it was only, he thought, a reasonable request, and one which they 

 should not cease to press till they got It carried, that they would not have the 

 importation of disease into this country — at least that they would have every means 

 taken to prevent the importation of disease into this country. This was not a cry for 

 protection against free trade. They did not want protection against animals or 

 butcher meat at all — it was protection against disease only that they wanted — and 

 they would welcome animals guaranteed free from disease from any country ; in fact, 

 they would be glad to get them. It seemed impossible that the disease could be 

 stopi~>ed till more speedy measures were taken to prevent animals suffering from it 

 coming to our shores. 



Mr .Melvix, Bonnington, said that in the correspondence Mr Peel, writing for the 

 Privy Council, threw out a suggestion which might be acted on with advantage, when 

 he stated that the present measure was not sufficient to carry out the request of this 

 Society in regard to the Royal Commission. If that was the case, would it not do for 

 this Society to recommend or ask that a commission be appointed to take the whole 

 subject of cattle diseases into consideration, so that disease might be kept out of the 

 country, and only healthy animals admitted ? It was wretched to think that they were 

 dependent entirely on Ireland for their supply of cattle. If that commission were ap- 

 pointed, there were a number of questions that would come up for its consideration. 

 At present there was a multitude of local authorities throughout the country, every one 

 Avith its own doctrines and opinions as to what should be done, and that created con- 

 fusion. Indeed, for some time past the cure had been worse than the disease. It 

 seemed to him that the Society had good opportunity to take advantage of that state- 

 ment by Mr Peel. The appointment of a commission might shut the mouths of those 

 who said this was a mere question of protection, and that there was a desire to exclude 

 all sorts of cattle from the country, which he always held it was not. 



Mr Bethune of Blebo said he did not know any subject equal in importance to 

 this. They must get at the root of the evil, or else it would ruin the agriculture of 

 the country. Tlie subject dinded itself into two heads. The agriculturists of the 

 country must compel the Goverament of the day not to pour in disease upon them. 

 It was said the cure was worse than the disease. They must bring it broadly before 

 the country that there were a number of men who did not go the length of saying 

 that. He was constantly persecuted by people saying the restrictions were worse than 

 the disease. They wanted to exercise some common sense. If the Privy Council 

 could not get hold of it, the Society would send them one man, and English societies, 

 of six of which he was a member, Avould do the same. The diseased cattle were being 

 poured in upon them. They must get at the truth, or perhaps they would be all 

 <lea'l, and their cattle too, before the thing was stopped. They must stop the jiouring 

 in ot those cattle at the bar of the House of Commons. Agriculturists were not to be 

 humbugged Ijy any Government, whether Whig, Tory, or Radical. They would not 

 submit to have the disease poured in upon them. He for one wa.s treated in the most 

 ferocious manner. They had enough of troubles without this foot-and-mouth disease. 

 They must have one universal code. They must teach the Privy Council on the 

 subject, and he did not know any persons more likely than the tough Scotch farmers 

 to do that. They must have a short code of universal practice. If ever there was 

 madness in the world it was the present course of action. He knew the disease had 

 brought numbers to bankruptcy, ami had ruined many. The code must be made 

 universal to stop the disease, and agriculturists would turn out half a dozen Govern- 

 ments — Whig, Tory, or Radical — unless they did what was wanted. 



The Chaih.man, referring to the remarks as to tlie division of opinion among local 

 authorities, observed that there was now a central board which was doing a good work 

 under Mr Stirling of Kijtpendavie. lliere was a desire to have an attemi>t to get the 

 local authorities to work in unison, and he thought that was a step in advance. 



Mr Scott Dudgkon read the following letter from Major Craigie, the secretary of 

 the Central Chamber of Agriculture, to Mr F. N. Menzies. 



"Cattle Diseases Committee, Ct-ntral Chamber of Agriculture, 7 Arundel Street, 

 "Strand, London, W.C, 26th December 1883. 



" Dear Sir, — In view of the necessity of moving the Government to further action in 

 tlie direction of excluding animals from countries inft'cte<l with foot-and-mouth disease, 

 jiowur has been given to this committee to ask the co-operation of other societies, and 

 to establish a special fund for the purpose of circulating information by printed papers, 

 or by k'ctures, esi)t'(ially in the towns. The suggfstion has V>een jtroiuptly responded 

 to, and various leading members of the Council of the Royal Agricultural Society have 

 ndtled tlieir names to the comnuttee for this purpose. I enclose a list of the committee 

 appendcil to the report herewith, and also a cojiy of a riMirint which the committee ha.s 

 had made of a recent ]>aj'er by Mr Duckhain, M.I*, for ilerefordshire. By i>arcel pest 



