Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 
441 
poultices to the feet, and afterwards styptics or caustics, accord- 
ing to circumstances. 
Perhaps this system of treatment, in the hands of Professor 
Sewell, might in some cases have proved beneficial ; but in 
general practice, with such variations and additions as each 
practitioner felt inclined to employ, its results were entirely 
disastrous ; and it must be admitted that the remarkable fatality 
which attended the progress of the disease in 1840-1 was in 
great degree due to the recklessness of the medical treatment 
employed. Another circular was issued by the Society in 
February, 1841, for the purpose of obtaining information in 
respect of the causes of the disease and the conditions which 
favour its spread. The farmers who were addressed responded 
to the inquiry by giving their ideas on the subject, as well 
as the results of their observation ; and a report embodying the 
information thus gained was published in the Society's Journal 
for 1841, but no light was thrown on the introduction of the 
malady, or the means of preventing its spread. 
The outbreak of 1839-40 was the most severe of any which 
has occurred in this kingdom. Cattle were not the only vic- 
tims, but the disease attacked sheep, pigs, and poultry. Sheep 
suffered to a remarkable extent, the feet as is usual in these 
animals being most severely affected, and it is recorded that in 
1841, after a market at Smithfield, it was not uncommon for 
.the persons employed in sweeping the market-place to collect 
basketfuls of the hoofs of sheep and pigs, which had been cast 
off during the day. And it was certainly not unusual to see 
the hoofs fall off the feet of pigs while the animals were being 
lifted into carts to be carried away for slaughter. Sloughing of 
the hoof-horn may indeed be looked on as one of the results of 
foot-and-mouth disease ; but it has never since happened to the 
extent that it occurred in 1841. 
While the outbreak of 1839-40 was excessively severe, its 
duration was not prolonged beyond the period of two years. In 
1842 the disease had considerably abated, and the cases which 
occurred presented a much milder type. 
Another outbreak, or accession of disease, is recorded to have 
occurred in 1845. In that year Norfolk again suffered severely 
from extensive ravages of the malady, as it had done on its first 
introduction in 1839. The outbreak of 1845 will be remembered 
in Norfolk, owing to the circumstance of the disease being so 
rapid in its progress, that St. Faith's Fair was prohibited. The 
origin of the outbreak is not known. 
The prohibition against the importation of foreign stock was 
removed in July, 1842 ; foreign animals were allowed to be 
landed, on payment of a duty varying from Is. to 205. per head. 
