FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE 11 



but also from Foot and Mouth Disease, Pleuro -Pneumonia. 

 Rabies, and Sheep Pox, as well as the other scheduled diseases 

 which are still amongst us. 



It is worth noting that in matters relating to local taxation 

 it was the general public and the rank and file of members 

 of Parliament who needed educating, whereas in matters 

 affecting cattle diseases it was the farmers themselves who 

 first required enlightenment,* and next the Government 

 and the Government Departnfent immediately concerned 

 that required education. As for the outside public, except 

 a few interested parties, they never have troubled about a 

 subject which appeared to them only to affect agriculture. 

 Of course, there was a certain type of politician (we have him 

 still with us) who was always on the alert for opportunities 

 of attaining a cheap popularity by raising the cry of " inter- 

 fering with the people's food." Then, as now, no effort to 

 safeguard the people's food supply could be attempted with- 

 out these vote-hunters making a stir. This was peculiarly 

 noticeable in the early 'eighties, when a serious outbreak of 

 Foot and Mouth Disease occurred, and a strong agitation 

 resulted among agriculturists in favour of better adminis- 

 tration for its suppression. Most speakers on the subject 

 at that time took care to point out that proper adminis- 

 tration would not affect prices, and probably this was rendered 

 necessary because about 1881-2 a group of protectionists, 

 under the banner of " Fair Trade," became very prominent 

 for a few years ; and the pseudo free trader then, as now, saw 

 protection in everything he did not understand. 



But how short is human memory ! The then farmers of 

 England, impressed by their terrible losses, formed their 

 organisation with the view of forcing the Government to 

 introduce compulsory regulations, in order to stamp out and 

 prevent fresh importations of disease, whereas during the 

 last three or four years every Order of the Board of Agri- 



* In the Annual Report for 1872 the Council express their belief 

 " that a complete change has taken place in the opinions of breeders 

 and graziers as to the desirability of attempting to repress Foot and 

 Mouth Disease as well as other preventable diseases." 



