STATE HYGIENE 487 



has reasonable grounds for believing either that disease 

 exists, or that the Act is being contravened. In a court of 

 justice his certificate is conclusive evidence of the matter 

 certified. 



In Ireland the Local Authorities are not compelled to 

 keep a veterinary inspector. These duties may be vested 

 in an inspector, who, if qualified, may be styled a veterinary 

 inspector.* 



Local authorities are provided under the Act with 

 considerable powers, but, from a legislative point of view, 

 none are so important as those given in Section 39, by 

 which two local authorities, for the better control of 

 disease within their border, may agree to form a united 

 district and place the whole under one uniform system of 

 control. This is a most enlightened enactment, with far- 

 reaching possibilities, if only local authorities would work 

 harmoniously. It is the best evidence we possess that 

 legislation recognises that disease is no respecter of parish 

 or county boundaries, and that combined action in a united 

 district is more likely to be attended by good results than 

 operations within a limited sphere. 



The definition of infected places, areas, and circles of 

 disease generally, are laid down in Sections 8 and 9 of the 

 Act, which deals more especially with pleuro-pneumonia 

 and foot and mouth disease ; while Sections 10 and 12 

 are general provisions as to infected places, areas, and 

 circles. 



An infected circle may be declared by order of the 

 Board instead of an infected area. Such a circle com- 

 prises the whole space lying within a distance of half a 

 mile from any part of the infected place. The Board 

 has power, however, to control the limits of an infected 

 circle. 



Movements into, out of, and within an infected area or 



* Ireland does not avail herself of the specially sanctioned un- 

 qualified inspector, nor resort to lay assistance so common in Great 

 Britain. In this she shows her wisdom, and offers a good object-lesson 

 to her neighbour. 



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