( 187 ) 
V. — Report on the Trade in Animals, and its iiifluence on tlie 
spread of Foot-and- Mouth and other Contagious or Infectious 
Diseases which affect the Live Stock of the Farm. By H. M. 
Jenkins, F.G.S., Secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society. 
Nine years ago two Bills* liavino: reference to the trade in 
animals were referred to a Select Committee of the House of 
Commons. The evidence taken was very exhaustive, and repre- 
sented the opinions then held by the various interests involved 
in the cattle and meat trades. The witnesses diflTored in opinion 
on many points, but they were generally agreed on this one, — that 
it was not advisable to include Foot-and-Mouth in the schedule of 
Contagious or Infectious Diseases that should come under 
the operation of the proposed Acts. Considering the state 
of opinion amoiigst all sections of agriculturists at the pre- 
sent time, it seems almost incredible that, only nine years 
ago, it was considered that foot-and-mouth disease was one 
to which all stock are liable, and that the sooner they have it 
and get over it, the better for them. There can, however, be no 
doubt that public opinion was then so strongly against legislative 
interference with foot-and-mouth disease, that the impetus in 
that direction — the vis a tergo, if it may be so termed — was 
so powerful that it continued long enough and strong enough 
to cause foot-and-mouth disease to be excluded from the chief 
provisions of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1869, 
which, therefore, are applicable only to cattle-plague, pleuro- 
pneumonia, sheep-pox, and glanders. 
This Act is dated August 9th, 1869, and it had scarcely been 
passed when foot-and-mouth disease acquired the remarkable 
development which has ever since continued, with fluctuations 
due to the season. The commencement of the outbreak 
with which we have to deal is thus described in the Annual 
Report of the Governors of the Royal Veterinary College for 
1869 t '. — " During the first part of the year little was heard of 
this disease, beyond the existence of it in its ordinary form in 
a few places in England and Scotland. At the beginning of the 
summer, however, a somewhat sudden augmentation of the 
disease occurred ; and as this circumstance was coincident with 
the malady assuming an epizootic form on the Continent, it was 
believed by many persons that its increase here depended on 
the importation of diseased animals from abroad. An official 
inquiry, however, did not confirm this opinion. The experience 
* The Cattle Diseases Prevention Bill, and The Cattle, &c.. Importation 
Bill. 
t 'Journal of the Eoval Agricnltural Socictv,' 2n(l series, vol. vi. Part II., 
p. 433. 
VOL. IX. — S. S. O 
