SMALL-POX IN SHEEP. 249 



toll, or from Southampton to Ilsley, &c., in the same way. 

 An extensive dealer has assured me that many hundred 

 sheep driven for many days along the Wiltshire downs cost 

 for travelling expenses 4s. a day. No money is needed fcr 

 food, shelter, or tolls. 



There are some notorious dealers who have no farm or 

 down on which to keep their flocks. They pick up odd 

 animals at a low price, here and there, and drive over the 

 downs, where they sleep, and move gently backwards and 

 forwards on the pretext of travelling, but in reality getting 

 food for their flocks. Many instances have occurred of the 

 spread of contagious disorders, such as scab, the foot-and- 

 mouth disease, foot rot, &c., from these infected flocks passing 

 over the downs along the Wan's dyke. 



The lowland portion of the Allington farm is skirted by 

 the canal, and it is said that the sheep were near this canal 

 when the disease first broke out. I find, however, that the 

 first case occurred amongst a portion of the flock that had 

 been daily to the down for about a week. My authority is 

 the shepherd who drove them. 



I visited the downs repeatedly, rode across them with 

 gentlemen who knew the country well, spoke to drovers, shep- 

 herds, and other persons, and the more I inquired the more 

 evidence did I obtain in confirmation of the facts gleaned by 

 me the first morning I commenced my investigations. 



My inquiries abroad indicate that of late years, but espe- 

 cially in 1861, and early in 1862, small-pox has been raging 

 severely in the countries whence we derive stock. There 

 have been no seizures of infected sheep, but many have 

 undoubtedly been introduced in this country. Many were 

 imported in the spring. With all these facts, I think the 

 evidence is as complete as we need have it with regard to 

 the contamination of the Allington flock The very fact of 



