STATE HYGIENE 477 



or carbolic acid is prescribed, and their proportions for use 

 given. In this disease the dung and litter, which possibly 

 do not contain a single anthrax organism, is to be burned 

 (and rightly so), while the swine fever excreta teeming with 

 organisms is only mixed with lime and ' effectually re- 

 moved ' ! 



The whole question of disinfection in these Orders, 

 excepting that referring to Anthrax, requires recasting. In 

 every case the work should be carried out under the 

 supervision of a veterinary inspector. Whitewash should 

 no longer be regarded as a disinfectant, but relegated to 

 the closing work of making the place look clean, after the 

 organisms have been destroyed by a disinfectant. 



The burial of diseased animals is another feature that 

 requires revision. Six clear feet under the earth with 

 some lime or other ' suitable disinfectant ' is generally 

 prescribed throughout all the Orders. Even the rabid dog 

 is to be put down six clear feet ! It is not said what is to 

 be done when rock or water are met with at much less 

 than that depth. There is no mention in the Orders of 

 field cremation, which is perfectly simple in any country 

 place, and not necessary in any town, where destructors 

 should always exist.* 



It is only in the case of anthrax that detailed instructions 

 exist as to what constitutes a 'sufficiency' of lime in burial, 

 and here it lays down that it should be quicklime a foot 

 thick under the body, and another foot in thickness over it 

 — that is to say, about two tons of lime. It would be 

 interesting to know how often this Order has been enforced. 



Compensation. — Another question dealt with in the Act 

 is that of compulsory destruction of diseased and in- contact 

 animals with compensation. The question of compensation 

 is a very vexed one ; our personal views are that it is an 

 indefensible practice, and like any form of State charity 

 is liable to extreme abuse, fostering that spirit of looking 

 to the State for help when it ought to come from within. 



* In 1901 a leaflet on Field Cremation was issued by the Board to 

 Local Authorities asking them to try it. 



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