52 SMALL-POX IN SIIKEP. 



from persons to goods, and from goods again to per- 

 sons." The great end, therefore, of all sanitary laws 

 should he not only to prevent the introduction of any 

 pest of this kind, but, by separation, isolation, and 

 restriction, to avoid its extension among either men or 

 animals. 



Some persons have asked, whether an Order in 

 Council prohibiting the importation would not be the 

 best step to take ? To this we will only reply, that 

 such an order can only be issued for a time, and could 

 therefore give no security when the date fixed for its 

 continuance had expired ; and during the period when 

 it was in force, the price of mutton would rise and 

 injure the consumer, more especially the poor, for 

 whom the paternal care of Government is particularly 

 demanded. 



On referring to page 41 it will be seen, that on Sep- 

 tember 13th and 24th, many infected sheep were sent 

 to Smithfield. Some idea may be formed of the extent 

 of the ovine variola at that time in the neighbourhood 

 of London, from the fact that, on each succeeding 

 market-day large numbers of sheep of various breeds, 

 and in different stages of the malady, were offered for 

 sale. The risk thus incurred of the rapid extension of 

 the disorder was fearfully increased ; for, as we have 

 elsewhere shewn, many farmers, of late, have pur- 

 chased their stock sheep at Smithfield ; and, conse- 

 quently, the quantity weekly penned gives but an im- 

 perfect notion of the supply of meat for consumption : 

 hence, one reason why the price of mutton has not 

 been this year in proportion to the sheep on which the 

 market-toll has been paid. The animals purchased for 

 feeding are forwarded by the different railways to the 



