STATE HYGIENE 639 



SECTION III— LANDING OF FOBEIGN ANIMALS 

 IN GREAT BBITAJN. 



One of the most beneficial Acts of Parliament relating 

 to animals and agriculture ever passed, was the Amend- 

 ment introduced in 1896 to the Diseases of Animals Act of 

 1894, by which the 24th Section of the Act of 1894 was 

 repealed, which permitted the landing of animals alive in 

 this country. 



The Act of 1896 prohibited the landing of foreign cattle, 

 sheep, goats, and swine, excepting for slaughter at the 

 place of landing. Only those conversant with the historic 

 animal plagues, can fully realize the extraordinary possi- 

 bilities of this Order. It is the first step towards the 

 eradication of epizootic diseases from Great Britain, for 

 which our insular position is so favourable. So long as 

 foreign cattle were being admitted, the stamping out of 

 disease was an expensive procedure with no finality ; for it 

 was conceivable, as indeed actually occurred, that after 

 freeing the country from disease we again allowed the 

 importation of it. It is almost past belief, and entirely 

 past understanding, how such a policy could have been 

 adopted. 



The bitter lessons learned in this respect have been 

 purchased at an unnecessary cost, and any Government 

 that yields to outside pressure to open this country again 

 to infection from without, will be guilty of national suicide. 



The restrictions on the importation of foreign animals are 

 contained in the 



Foreign Animals Order of 1903. 



This order prohibits the landing of animals, even for destruction, 

 from certain prohibited countries, which are issued in the schedule to 

 the Order. It prohibits the landing excepting for slaughter of all 

 animals (horses excepted) from any foreign country ; or the landing of 

 any carcase that has died or been slaughtered on board during the 

 passage to this country ; further it prohibits the landing of the manure, 

 partly consumed or broken fodder, or litter of such animal ; or any 



Digitized by Microsoft® 



