1920.] FoOT-AND-MoUTH DISEASE IN NORFOLK. 319 



west of Norwich. No information of this movement reached 

 the officials of the Ministry, though they visited this adjoining 

 farm in the ordinary course of their inspection. This latter 

 farm remained free from disease and has never been under 

 suspicion. The Bowthorpe farm came within the area within 

 which movement was restricted because of the outbreak at 

 Stanninghall. Restrictions were, however, removed from this 

 area on 3rd May, when, owing to the absence of further reports 

 or outbreaks,, it was considered that this step could be safely 

 taken. 



On ist June, one of the Ministry's Veterinary Inspectors, 

 on receipt of a report by a Veterinary Inspector to the Local 

 Authority of the County of Norfolk, visited the Bowthorpe farm, 

 and there found that 5 cattle and 8 sheep were affected with 

 foot-and-mouth-disease. He then heard for the first time 

 of the movement of sheep from Stanninghall, and at the same 

 time his inquiry elicited the fact that 570 sheep had been 

 removed about 9th May by road from Bowthorpe to Emneth, 

 a distance of about 50 miles." Their track was immediately 

 followed, and inquiries made on either side of the road they 

 had taken. Unfortunately the mischief had been done, 

 and outbreaks were discovered at various places along the 

 route. In these circumstances heavy slaughtering was 

 inevitable, and the necessity of slaughter was increased owing 

 to the fact that other owners on the route had also by this 

 time moved sheep over the infected track. It is now hoped 

 that the full extent of the infection has been traced and that 

 the outbreak is well in hand. 



Clearly the officials of the Ministry had no reason to suspect 

 the farm at Bowthorpe from which the disease was distributed, 

 inasmuch as it is several miles away from the earlier outbreak 

 at Stanninghall and there was apparently nothing to connect 

 the two. 



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