STATE HYGIENE 541 



infected area, during whicli time a score of fresh centres 

 have developed. 



As so much of the spread of the disease hinges on the 

 question of swine movements, it is desirable to enter more 

 fully into this question ; it is perhaps best to discuss the 

 matter under two heads, viz., movements in an infected 

 place and in an infected area. 



Eegarding movements in an infected place there must be 

 none of any description ; no temporizing can be allowed ; 

 if the disease exists all the swine must be destroyed, the 

 place disinfected, and nothing in the shape of swine 

 allowed in for six months. 



Movements in the affected area should also be forbidden, in 

 which case the country would soon be cleared of this pest, 

 but since no Government is found strong enough to stop 

 all movements, various temporizing measures have from 

 time to time been adopted. One of these we have already 

 examined, under the head of swine movements being per- 

 mitted provided the swine were not visibly diseased. This 

 as we have seen failed. The next temporizing measure is 

 now on trial, it permits movements of swine provided they 

 have been in the same ownership for twenty-eight days 

 before movement, it being a condition of each movement 

 that on arrival at their destination the swine are detained, 

 and as far as possible kept isolated from other swine for a 

 further period of twenty-eight days. 



So much in these regulations depends upon the owner or 

 person in charge keeping faith with the law ; experience 

 goes to show that the object of most people is to evade the 

 law, and there is nothing in the above regulations to 

 prevent it. These restrictions are the best produced up to 

 the present date, but will not get rid of swine fever, though 

 if faithfully observed they should certainly reduce the number 

 of outbreaks. 



Nothing will get rid of the disease but destruction of 

 affected and in-contacts, total prohibition of all movements, 

 and rigorous disinfection. 



The next important step is to destroy the infection on the 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



