446 
Foot-and-Moutli Disease. 
which would be incurred if all the animals were slaughtered in 
the metropolis. After considerable discussion arrangements 
were made for the removal of the healthy cattle into the country 
for slaughter on the following conditions. Every animal so 
removed was to be examined by one of the Inspectors of the 
Veterinary Department, and certified to be free from evidence 
of infectious or contagious disease. Each animal was to be 
moved in charge of a person approved by the Veterinary 
Department, and the person selected was required to remain in 
charge of the animal until the slaughter took place, and then to 
certify the fact to the Department. 
All expenses attending the carrying out of these conditions 
had to be defrayed by the owners or purchasers of the cattle. 
And notwithstanding the amount of trouble and expense in- 
volved, the conditions were accepted almost without exception 
by those who were entitled to take advantage of the concession. 
The year 1871 was distinguished by the extensive prevalence 
of the disease all over the kingdom. Ireland is reported to have 
received diseased animals from us in May, and it is a matter of 
fact that during this year the complaint reached every one 
of the counties in Ireland. 
Great Britain returned to the Veterinary Department more 
than 52,000 fresh outbreaks in the course of the year, and it 
may be taken as an undoubted fact that the return did not 
include more than a reasonable proportion of the cases which 
actually occurred. Foot-and-mouth disease again appeared at the 
fat stock exhibition of the Smithfield Club in December of this 
year ; but owing to the action taken there was less inconvenience 
experienced by the exhibitors than was suffered by them on the 
former occasions which have been noticed. 
Before the Show was held the Council of the Smithfield Club 
took an agricultural view of the subject, and succeeded in 
obtaining an Order of Council so worded, that only the diseased 
animals, if any, would be necessarily slaughtered in the metro- 
polis. The usual arrangements in regard to inspection were 
made, and a shed was set apart for the reception of diseased 
animals, which was, unfortunately, well filled. 
Almost the first animals which arrived came from the Bir- 
mingham Show and were found to be suffiering from the disease. 
The diseased cattle were not allowed to enter the Show, but 
were placed in a shed provided for the emergency. This pre- 
caution, however, did not in any way protect the healthy cattle, 
which sometimes were carried in the same vans with the 
diseased, and it was, therefore, naturally expected that the affec- 
tion would spread. 
Early in the week of the Show many of the cattle began to 
