STATE HYGIENE 467 



Gamgee's predictions in course of time proved true, but 

 even then his advice to destroy the affected and in-con- 

 tact cases was not followed, as its suggestion raised the 

 most intense ill-feeling throughout the country; yet finally, 

 after importing medical and lay advice, the measures sug- 

 gested by him had to be enforced by Parliament, in order 

 to free the country from disease. 



Gamgee warned the authorities what must occur nine 

 years before the disease appeared in England, yet it found 

 us utterly unprepared for the invasion. No veterinary staff 

 existed to advise the Government, no machinery for the 

 suppression of disease, everything left to the policy of drift 

 and muddle, national characteristics which have become 

 intensified rather than reduced by time and experience. 

 In spite of years of warning, when the country cried out 

 for the Government to act in the matter of Cattle Plague, 

 the only reply at first received was that they had not suffi- 

 cient power to deal with it !* Now, as a matter of fact, 

 they had powers but they were not exercised. An Act of 

 1848, known as 11 and 12 Vic, Cap. cv., gave the Privy 

 Council power to prohibit the importation of cattle, sheep, 

 and other animals, or only to admit them after quarantine. 

 Act 11 and 12 Vic, Cap. cvii., of the same year as the 

 above, gave power to prohibit and regulate the movements 

 of animals in the country, also that of hides, fodder, or 

 anything capable of spreading contagion, and when in 

 1853 Act 16 and 17, Cap. Ixii., took the place of the above, 

 the same provisions were enacted, including others dealing 

 with the exposure of diseased animals in markets and on 

 commons. 



So that the excuse of having no power is not correct. 

 They had the powers but were afraid to utilise them ; they 

 had the advice but were too timid to act upon it. 



A Cattle Plague Department hurriedly formed in 1865 

 was the nucleus of the present Veterinary Department of 



* See a most interesting account on the 'Progress of Legislation 

 against Contagious Diseases of Live Stock,' by Mr. J. Duckham, M.P., 

 Journal of the Boyal Agricultural Society, vol. iv., part ii., 1893. 



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