Foot-and-Mouth Disease : its History and Teachings. 15 
The re-appearance of disease long after the contagion has 
apparently died out from the spot may be of occasional occur- 
rence only ; certainly few cases of such recrudescence have been 
authenticated or recorded, probably because the great longevity 
of the germs had not been suspected or acknowledged,* and after 
the lapse of time since the last outbreak, we may, perhaps, safely 
conclude that if no further stock of virus be imported, no more 
will be heard of foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom. 
(4.) Measures of Prevention Required. 
Experience has shown that the Acts in force do not provide 
an invulnerable defence against either the introduction or the 
spread of disease. On the arrival of diseased animals at Hartle- 
pool and Deptford in January and February 1885, the contagion 
might, but for good fortune, have eluded the vigilance of the 
Inspector at the ports, and have escaped inland. The risk is 
so great, and the consequence so disastrous, that it is absolutely 
indispensable, whenever an outbreak occurs in the country, that 
we should be completely armed with measures of prevention 
to be put in force without a moments delay. Indeed the pro- 
bability that foot-and-mouth disease will be re-imported from 
time to time and escape inland from our ports, is so great, and 
the failure of our past treatment of the disease so disastrous, 
that no agriculturist will question the necessity for instituting 
a sound and reliable system of suppressing initial outbreaks. 
Knowing the danger of trusting to Local Authorities for prompt 
action in stamping out first outbreaks — especially Urban 
Authorities — it appears to be imperatively necessary that the 
Legislature should provide for uniform action throughout the 
United Kingdom, and should establish a machinery of internal 
regulations fully adequate to deal with isolated cases of disease. 
To avoid a repetition of former disasters, a watchful and ready 
apparatus must be organised, which shall be always wound up 
and spontaneously set in motion upon the appearance of danger 
in any locality. I have long maintained that an isolated centre 
of contagious disease should be treated like the occurrence of a 
fire, and rigorously watched until all danger of the disease 
spreading has passed away. 
In no part of this kingdom have cattle diseases been more 
effectively and promptly dealt with than in the counties of 
'Cumberland and Westmoreland. The plan pursued in these 
.counties is very similar to that which has been long practised 
* Professor Browu acknowledged, at the Council Meeting of the Koyal Agricul- 
tural Society in November last that little or nothing was known of the longevity 
of germs. — J. H. 
