200 



XIII.— CONTAGIOUS DISEASE. 



CONTAGIOUS disease of farm animals at an early date in the 

 eighteenth century caused restrictions to be placed on the 

 movement of animals. When cattle plague raged from 1745 to 1757 

 certificates were issued by justices, clergymen, and others, but owing 

 to laxness it became necessary, in 1750, to impose a fine of £20 upon 

 them for issuing wrongful certificates. The following notice was issued 

 by the High Constables of the four Wards in 1747 : — 

 Westmorland to Wit : — By virtue of a warrant from His Majesty's Justices 

 of the Peace in and for the said County to me directed, these are in His Majesty's 

 name to require and command you and every of you forthwith to stop or cause 

 to be stopped all homed cattle that shall be driven into this County, and to carry 

 the offender or offenders before one or more of His Majesty's Justices of the 

 Peace, Commissioner or Commissioners of the Land Tax for this County, to be 

 dealt with according to law and in the mean time to put the said cattle under 

 the care of some proper person or persons until the pleasure of the said Justice 

 or Justices of the Peace, Commissioner or Commissioners of the Land Tax, 

 concerning the same shall be known. Herein fail not at your perils. Given 

 under my hand the 12th day of October, 1747. Signed Thomtis Dennison, 

 High Constable of the Kendal Ward. 



A certificate for the removal of cattle issued by the parson of 

 Ravenstonedale is as follows : — 



Cattle Distemper : — These are to certify whom it may concern that the 

 Read Heffer and the Cow, read Cicyn and Calfs that Thomas Fawcett of Weesdal 

 in rauenstondale Intends to drive to Kirkby Stephen and other neighbouring 

 Fares in order for Sale as also all the rest of hird of Cattle from whence they 

 came and do belong now are and have been for the Space of two Calender Months 

 next before the date hereof intiarly free from the Infection or Distemper wh: 

 now rages amongst the homed Catale in this Kingdom and that the sd: Heffer 

 and Calving Cow have been in the Actuell Possession of the abov sd; Thomas 

 Fawcett for two Calender Months Last pst before ye date. As appears to me 

 upon Examination on the Oath of the abovsd Thomas Fawcett whoas Property 

 the sd: Hefier and Calving is. In Testimoney whearof I have hereunto set my 

 hand and seal this i8th April 1747. Robt. Mounsey Cur: of Ravenstondale. 



When foot and mouth disease broke out in 1839 and rapidly 

 spread throughout the country, Westmorland was very badly attacked, 

 and the " Need Fire " was again resorted to, to cure and prevent the 

 terrible infection. It was a relic of fire-worship handed down from 

 aboriginal times, though local tradition says that an angel was seen to 

 descend and set fire to a tree in Yorkshire ; this strange sight attracted 



