175 



THE DONCASTER SHOW, 1912. 



Happily it is extremely rare that the Society has to cope with 

 difficulties of the magnitude of those which arose at Doncaster, 

 and it is a matter of satisfaction that under all the circum- 

 stances the Show was carried through with comparatively small 

 financial loss. The outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in 

 the country and the consequent absence of the cattle, sheep 

 and pigs was no light blow, and might have had most disastrous 

 effects on the success of the Exhibition. 



Although foot-and-mouth disease was reported to have 

 broken out in the neighbourhood of Penrith on Sunday, June 

 23, it was not until the afternoon of the following Friday 

 (June 28) that an intimation was received by the Secretary of 

 the Society at Doncaster of the fact that the disease had been 

 confirmed in cattle in Stanley Market, Liverpool, on the 

 previous Monday. It was stated in the telegram from the 

 Board of Agriculture that the destination of certain of the 

 animals which had been exposed in the market was not 

 definitely known, but that there was strong probability that 

 some had been moved to Leeds and Wakefield. 



A conference was immediately arranged by telegram that 

 evening in London between the Officials of the Board of Agri- 

 culture and Sir Gilbert Greenall, Sir John McFadyean, and the 

 Secretary, as the result of which it was decided to take special 

 precautions in examining the animals coming to the Show not 

 only at the Showyard entrance, but also at the Doncaster 

 Railway Stations. To carry out this arrangement the Society 

 had to obtain the services of additional veterinary inspectors, 

 and the greatest possible care was exercised in connection with 

 the exhibits. 



At a late hour on the Sunday night (June 30) a telegram in 

 the following terms was received by Sir Gilbert Greenall from 

 the Board of Agriculture : 



" Until we know that foot-and-mouth disease has not spread into the 

 districts into which Irish cattle were scattered last week, namely, 

 Gateshead, Malpas, Derby, Nottingham, Wakefield, and Leeds, there is the 

 risk of the Board having to issue a General Stand-Still Order for all 

 England and Wales at any time within the next few days. 



" It might be possible for the Board to make special arrangements for 

 cattle, sheep, and pigs to be sent home from the Royal Show, but the 

 exhibitors should be made aware of the fact that at the best, even with 



