Infectious Diseases of Animals. 239 



Victoria Docks. Among these animals seven were found to be affected with 

 sheep-pox. 



August 13th, the " Xora " from Harlingeu landed 671 sheep at the Dublin 

 wharf. Among these animals five cases of the disease were detected. 



August 17th, the "Lion" landed 2366 sheep at the Brunswick wharf. In 

 this cargo there were 25 diseased animals. 



August 19th, the " City of Xorwich " from Tonning landed 1020 sheep at 

 Brunswick wharf Among these animals there were 27 diseased. 



August 25th, the " Lion " from Harlingen and Nieue Dieppe landed 956 

 sheep, among which there were two infected with sheep-pox. 



August 30th, the " Olga " from Eotterdam landed 572 sheep at Victoria 

 Docks. Among them there were two animals affected with the disease. 



September 16tli, the " Batavia " from Eotterdam landed 318 sheep at the 

 Brunswick wharf; three of them were affected with sheep-pox. 



October 12th, the " Tonning " from Tonning landed 348 sheep at Victoria 

 Docks. One of these animals was found to be a subject of sheep-pox. 



In 1869, on April 21st, the " Maas " from Antwerp landed 1815 sheep at 

 Brown's wharf. Five of these animals were found to be affected with sheep- 

 pox. 



In 1870, on the 14th October, the "Cosmopolitan" from Hamburg 

 landed 258 sheep at Odam's wharf. One sheep of the cargo was affected with 

 sheep-pox. 



In 1871, the " Dragon " from Hamburg landed 435 sheep at Bro^\^l's wharf 

 Among these animals one was found to be affected with sheep-pox. 



In every instance of the landing of diseased animals at English ports 

 arrangements were made as quickly as possible for the slaughter of the entire 

 cargo ; but owing in many cases to the absence of proper convenience, some 

 time elapsed before the slaughter could be completed. During this time the 

 sheep were subject to daily inspection, and the cases of disease were removed 

 as they occurred day by day, in order that the carcasses of the diseased animals 

 might be efiectually destroyed. 



As soon as the slaughter of the animals was completed, the landing-places 

 were properly disinfected before it was permitted to land other animals on 

 them. Orders of the Council were passed when the circumstances rendered 

 them necessary, prohibiting the landing of sheep from countries where sheep- 

 pox was known to exist, except for the purpose of immediate slaughter. 



During 1872 no case of sheep-pox was detected among the foreign sheep 

 landed at English ports, nor has an outbreak occurred since the passing of the 

 Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act of 1869. Consequently the provisions of 

 the Act in respect of that disease have not yet been tested. They, however, 

 amount in effect to the provisions which were always enacted by order of the 

 Council previously to the passing of the Act, and which were found effectual 

 in preventing the spread of the disease to any great extent, although they 

 exercised no influence on its progress through the flock. The regulations 

 which are now in force would have the effect of making premises on which 

 the disease has appeared infected places, and therefore of preventing the 

 movement of animals into and out of the area of such places. The treatment 

 of the diseased animals and those herded with them is not in any way referred 

 to. The owner is consequently left to adopt any measures which he pleases. 



Considering the highly contagious character of sheep-pox and the great 

 fatality which occasionally attends its progress, it appears to be desirable that 

 the stamping-out sj'stem should be apjilied in all cases in which the disease 

 appears among sheep in this country. At least the slaughter of all diseased 

 animals should be insisted on, and it will, under most circumstances, be 

 found economical to destroy those which have been herded with them at the 

 same time. 



