202 
Report on the Trade in Animals. 
Irish graziers to report the existence of foot-and-moutli disease on 
their Jarins. The punishment of this offence, and that of driving 
affected cattle along a public road, is in many cases made so 
lenient by the Irish magistrates, that it amounts to an encourage- 
ment. I have heard the dealers themselves, when recounting their 
experiences in getting rid of affected beasts, and their occasional 
detection, ask one another, as a sort of stock joke, " And were ye 
fined a shilling ? " A most trustworthy correspondent in Ireland 
has informed me of a case in which, just previous to one of the 
great fairs at Ballinasloe, a man was prosecuted by the Govern- 
ment, not only for neglecting to report the existence of disease 
on his premises, but also for driving the affected animals through 
the town of Ballinasloe. The case was proved ; the magistrates 
fined him one penny, and further mulcted him in the sum of one 
shilling for costs ! Another and more recent case has been com- 
municated to me from county Meath, in which point was given 
to the proceedings by the agricultural standing of the magistrates. 
In this case two men were fined sixpence each for not reporting 
to the police the existence of foot-and-mouth disease on their 
farms. Other cases might doubtless be collected, but the fore- 
going are sufficient to show that infractions of the law are not 
always dealt with in Ireland with a due sense of responsibility 
on the part of the local magistrates. 
A striking example of habitual disregard of the law may be 
seen at almost any large railway station in Ireland. By the 
Transit of Animals (Ireland) Order of May, 1871, it is provided 
that railway trucks, &c., " used for carrying animals on any 
railway, shall, on every occasion, after any animal is taken out 
of the same, and before any other animal is placed therein, be 
cleansed in the following manner :" (1) swept out, then (2) washed 
with water, then (3) the sweepings mixed with quicklime, and 
effectually removed from contact with animals ; the wording of 
these provisions being similar to those of our own "Animals 
Order, 1871." Then follow two provisions which differ from 
ours, one ordering disinfection by means of a solution of carbolic 
and cresylic acid, but not stipulating for the use of lime, and 
the other enacting that pens or other enclosed places used for 
confining animals shall be cleansed and disinfected in the same 
manner as vehicles and trucks, once on every day on which they 
are used. 
I have no doubt that railway trucks are sometimes properly 
cleansed and disinfected ; but although, when in Ireland, 1 was 
continually on the look-out for the performance of these pro- 
cesses, they never came under my notice. On the other hand, 
I have repeatedly seen animals put i ito trucks that were in 
the most filthy condition ; but I have not heard of an Irish 
