Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 
447 
show signs of illness, and by the end of the week more than 
70 of them were suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, besides 
those (18 in number) which were excluded from the Show in 
the first instance, and handed over to the local authority. 
In the beginning of 1872, the returns which had, since the 
passing of the Act, been required from the local authorities, were 
not longer demanded, and it is therefore impossible to make any 
satisfactory comparison between the condition of prevalence of 
the disease in 1871 and 1872. From various sources, however, 
information was obtained from time to time, and the evidence 
altogether leads to the conclusion that in the latter part of this 
year the decline of the disease began, although many fresh out- 
breaks occurred in the country. 
On the continent there was no abatement of the progress of 
foot-and-mouth complaint. Cargoes of animals among which 
disease existed were constantly landed at our ports during the 
year, but owing to the rigorous adoption of the regulation 
which condemned the whole cargo to slaughter if one animal 
was affected with the disease, no extension of it occurred from 
this cause ; in fact, while the affection was declining in many 
parts of England it was spreading with rapidity in Germany, 
including Schleswig and Holstein, and other parts of the con- 
tinent. Towards the end of the year the decline of the malady 
became more marked, and it continued through the spring and 
summer of the present year, with occasional fresh outbreaks in 
different parts of the country. 
The precautions taken by the Council of the Smithfield Club 
to prevent the entrance of diseased animals in 1872 were ex- 
ceedingly stringent. Cattle which had been exhibited at any 
show within three months previously to the Smithfield Show 
were not allowed admission, and very precise rules were estab- 
lished relative to the manner of transit, cattle only being allowed 
to travel in horse boxes or private conveyances. 
The means adopted were perfectly effectual ; no diseased 
animals were detected at the entrance of the show-yard, and 
no outbreak occurred during the Show, although it is pro- 
bable that some of the cattle were infected while in the Hall, as 
they showed symptoms of the disease immediately after their 
return home. 
During the present year (1873) the decline of foot-and-mouth 
disease has steadily continued, and at this time (the month of 
August), when the disease would, according to the rule which 
has obtained for the last three years of its prevalence, have 
nearly reached its maximum, it is in a minimum condition in 
this country, and, so far as our information reaches, on the con- 
tinent also. For some months past very few cases of the disease 
