Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 
439 
our cattle in 1839 with the present foot-and-mouth complaint; 
indeed, there is ample evidence of the continued existence of 
the affection in the United Kin<^dom from that time. Professor 
Simonds first saw foot-and-mouth disease amontr animals at 
Laleham, near Twickenham, in September 1839, and it appeared 
from his investigations that the malady was introduced on the 
farm at Laleham by some sucking calves which were bought 
in the Smithfield market. The first animal which was attacked 
at Laleham was a cow which suckled one of the affected calves. 
Further inquiry led to the discovery that the disease first ap- 
peared in the neighbourhood of Stratford, near London, whence 
it was conveyed to Smithfield, and having once obtained an 
entrance into the cattle-markets it may be easily imagined how 
rapidly it would spread throughout the country. Unrecognised 
at the time, and its nature unsuspected, it would not be likely 
to attract much attention until it had assumed alarming propor- 
tions. This soon happened. 
The county of Norfolk was the next to suffer, then Essex, in 
consequence of the movement of cattle from the London market. 
Some Devon cattle at Langley Grange near Loddon in Norfolk 
were attacked in September 1839, about the time of the appear- 
ance of the disease at Laleham ; and almost immediately after- 
wards, if not at the same moment, it was discovered in Scotland. 
Ireland certainly suffered from its invasion soon after it reached 
Great Britain. 
In the census of Ireland for 1851, it is stated that in the year 
1841 a disease, characterised by stiffness of limbs and blisters 
on the tongue, spread among sheep in county Clare, and 
affected cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats in all parts of Ireland. 
Professor Ferguson, in a pamphlet which he published in 
1842, refers to a pustular affection of the nose, mouth, and feet 
of cattle which appeared three years before that date, about the 
time it appeared in England. How foot-and-mouth disease 
was introduced into the United Kingdom has never been ascer- 
tained ; but the evidence points to Holland or France as the 
centre from which the malady was communicated. It is true 
that foreign animals were not permitted to be landed on our 
shores between 1833, when the first prohibitory Order was 
passed, and 1842, when a relaxation was sanctioned, but it is 
quite probable, as Professor Simonds has suggested, that the 
disease may have been introduced by ships' stores ; that is 
to say, animals carried on board for the use of the passen- 
gers and crew during the voyage. It constantly occurs that 
one or two pigs, and now and then a cow or two, and some 
few sheep remain on board on the arrival of the vessel in 
this country, and such animals are allowed to be landed 
