926 VETERINAEY HYGIENE 



The Order regarding disinfection says ' a vessel from which foreign 

 animals have been landed in Great Britain ' (no mention of the words 

 Foreign Animals Wharfs) shall after the landing, and before any other 

 animals or cargo are placed on board, be cleansed and disinfected in a 

 manner to be presently described. 



There is no mention of how foreign horses are to be carried, the 

 nature of the fittings, or ventilation ; further, until the disinfection 

 chapter is arrived at, the Order applies purely to cattle and swine. 



The disinfection above spoken of consists in scraping all parts of the 

 compartment in which any animal or its excreta have come in contact; 

 these parts to be scrubbed, then thoroughly sprinUed with a solution 

 of carboHc acid and limewash ; fittings, pens, hurdles, or utensils to 

 be scraped, scoured and sprinMed with carbolic acid and limewash, 

 and the scrapings and sweepings to be well mixed with quicklime and 

 effectually removed. 



If any horse, ass or mule is carried in a horse box, then it is sufficient 

 if the horse box be disinfected by scraping, sweeping, removing all 

 excreta, and washing the box with soap and water. No lime or car- 

 bolic acid are directed to be used after the preliminary washing of 

 the box. 



Gangways used for the loading and unloading of foreign animals 

 are to be cleansed and disinfected as soon as possible, by scraping, 

 sweeping, scouring with water, and then sprinkled with a solution of 

 carbolic acid and limewash. 



Under the chapter ' Miscellaneous ' of this Order, are instructions 

 dealing with the carcases of animals dying on the voyage, and it is 

 stated that ' if a vessel arriving at a port has on board the carcase of a 

 foreign animal, horse, ass, or mule, which was taken on board for the 

 purpose of importation, but died on the voyage,' the master shall report 

 the fact to the officer of Custo7ns on arrival.* The carcase cannot be 

 landed from the vessel without the permission in writing of that Officer. 



It is very difficult to see what the Customs have to do with the 

 matter, but the Order goes on to say that if in the opinion of the 

 Principal Officer of Customs disease may be introduced by any foreign 

 animal, equine, carcase, litter, dung, etc., he may seize and detain the 

 same 1 



* Our object in drawing attention to this paragraph is that horses, 

 asses, and mules are for the second time mentioned in this Order, 

 though the Order is essentially one referring to foreign cattle which 

 are permitted to land at a Foreign Animals Wharf. 



Beyond these two paragraphs there is nothing dealing with the 

 importation of foreign horses, although the annual importations into 

 Great Britain are considerable, viz., an annual average of 45,750, during 

 the five years 1896-1900. 



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