Foot-and-Mouth Disease. 
451 
particular instance of the movement of diseased cattle for a 
long distance without detection of the existence of disease, 
attracted my attention at the time. The cattle were pur- 
chased at Southampton and taken to Glastonbury, whence 
they were driven across the moors to the owner's premises. 
Foot-and-mouth disease was discovered among them the day 
after their arrival, and due notice was given to the authorities ; 
but the facts which subsequently transpired proved that they 
must have been affected for some time previously, as they left a 
line of infection behind them ; the disease appeared in nearly 
every place through which they had passed on their route. 
In the Wells district foot-and-mouth disease was introduced 
repeatedly by cattle brought from Bristol, Chippenham, and 
Frome markets. 
In the Bridgewater district disease was introduced originally 
from Bristol market. The first outbreak occurred at Huntspill, 
and from that point the affection extended to cattle which 
were grazing on the Pawlet Hams, where there were no means 
of isolating diseased animals or applying sanitary regulations to 
check the spread of infection. No mystery attached to the origin 
of the disease in any of the districts where it prevailed. There 
was no occasion to suggest possible means of communication of 
the virus through the medium of the atmosphere or other less 
direct channels. The fact was patent enough that diseased and 
infected cattle, sheep, and pigs, were regularly moved by road, 
rail, and boat, from various parts of the kingdom to fairs and 
markets. Seizure of diseased animals did not materially lessen 
the mischief done, and the more effective measure, the prevention 
of the movement of those which had been herded with them, 
could not be carried out without an entire stoppage of the cattle 
trade. 
Irish animals were frequently landed at Bristol and other 
ports suffering from the disease, sent to the markets and distri- 
buted over the country, carrying the affection with them 
wherever they went ; but home-bred stock also suffering from 
the disease were moved with equal freedom and at least to an 
equal extent, and no remedy could be effectively applied to the 
one class of animals without including the other. In short it 
was clear, during the time of the greatest prevalence of the 
disease, that nothing less than a general interruption to the 
movement of cattle all over the kingdom, would be sufficient 
even to control its progress. 
Bristol market was for some reason specially selected for attack 
as the great centre of infection ; but a careful investigation proved, 
that even in the county of Somerset, Bristol was by no means 
the only distributing centre. The markets at Southampton, 
VOL. IX. — S. S. 2 H 
