448 
Foot-and- Mouth Disease. 
have been detected among the foreign animals landed at our 
ports. Ireland also is reported to be nearly free from the disease. 
The history of foot-and-mouth disease might be considerably 
extended by reference to the records of its progress in various 
parts of Europe, Africa, America, and Australia. No con- 
tagious disease of animals is so widely spread, and certainly 
none is more readily communicated from diseased to healthy 
stock. In no European country has the disease been eradicated 
by legislative measures, although restrictions on the movement of 
cattle have always succeeded in keeping it in check. In Australia 
the adoption of severe measures immediately on the discovery 
of the disease effectually arrested its course, and the prohibition 
of imports of cattle from England has since kept it out of the 
country. Our position as an importing country forbids us to 
hope for the eradication of the distemper after more than thirty 
years' constant existence here, by the adoption of measures 
which would be effectual on its first appearance in a country ; nor 
if we succeeded in completely eradicating the malady from the 
whole kingdom, could we expect to avoid its re-importation, 
unless we consented to hamper the foreign cattle trade by insist- 
ing on the slaughter at the place of landing of all foreign animals 
without exception — an extreme measure which is not likely to be 
adopted on account of a disease which is not fatal in its results, 
and one which people have learned to look upon as indigenous 
to this country. Experience of the last few years goes to show 
that even moderate legislation directed against this affection will 
not find any support from owners of cattle, or persons concerned 
in the cattle trade, and in the face of this experience it would be 
idle to attempt to carry out more severe measures, which to be 
effective must be permanent in their operation. 
Much may be done by stock owners to prevent the spread of 
foot-and-mouth disease if they think the matter of sufficient im- 
portance to deserve a little trouble and attention. To this end 
certain suggestions will be offered under the head of Prevention. 
Causes avhich contribute to the Spread of Foot-and- 
MouTH Disease. 
Most prominent among the influences which regulate the ex- 
tension of foot-and-mouth complaint and other contagious 
maladies, is the varying degree of susceptibility of the animal 
organism to be acted on by the specific poison. The history of 
animal plagues proves beyond question that under apparently 
similar conditions a disease will at one time appear in isolated 
positions, and confine its attack to few animals, while perhaps 
in the succeeding season its spread is rapid and extensive, and 
