Foot-aiid-Mouth Disease. 
443 
tenslvely prevalent. When cattle-plague appeared, foot-and- 
mouth disease was rife, and numerous opportunities occurred of 
comparing the morbid appearances of the two diseases, and 
tracing their progress in the same animal. So virulent was 
the attack in some instances, that the condition of the mouth 
resembled the state of that part in the worst forms of cattle- 
plague so closely as to attract special attention, and even in some 
instances to give rise to a suspicion of an outbreak of the plague. 
Among the great outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, that of 
1865 will always occupy a remarkable position, owing to the 
alleged influence of the cattle-plague restrictions in arresting 
the progress of the malady, and, according to some, completely 
eradicating it from the country. 
It is undoubtedly true that foot-and-mouth disease declined in 
the latter part of 1866, and during the greater part of 1867 
there were very few centres of infection ; at least, little notice 
was taken of the disease, but it is entirely fallacious to assert 
that the malady ceased entirely until it was re-imported from 
abroad. 
Cattle-plague restrictions, as the repressive measures are com- 
monly termed, including stoppage of the movement of cattle all 
over the country, except by licence, and under strict regula- 
tions, between sunrise and sunset, holding of fairs and markets 
only by licence, declaration of infected places, with prohibition 
of movement of cattle out of such declared areas ; and not least, 
the establishment of a sanitary cordon round the metropolis, 
were commenced on Alarch 24, 1866, and were continued by 
successive Orders of Council, with slight modifications, until they 
were revoked by an Order of Council dated June 16, 1868. 
At the time of the institution of these restrictions, the foot- 
and-mouth complaint had prevailed in a severe form for more 
than a year, and it continued to exist certainly for nearly 
another year while they were in operation. 
No increase in the number of attacks took place in 1868 ; in 
fact, the disease during that year remained in such an ordinary 
condition of existence that little notice was taken of it. At the 
same time it is to be remarked that the cattle-plague restrictions 
ceased to operate in June, 1868, and cattle were moved 
with perfect freedom everywhere excepting the metropolis, round 
which the sanitary cordon was still retained. 
General acceptance has been given to the statement that foot- 
and-mouth disease was arrested, if not exterminated, by the 
operation of the regulations which Avere directed to the ex- 
termination of cattle-plague ; but it must be admitted that the 
grounds on which this conclusion is based are exceedingly 
slight. The bare fact that foot-and-mouth disease declined after 
