Foot-and-mouth Disease: its History and Teachings. 17 
cause any animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease, 
or any animals being or having been in the same shed, 
or herd, or flock, or pig-sty, or in contact with animals 
affected with foot-and-mouth disease, to be slaughtered 
within sixty hours after the existence of the disease 
has been made known to their Inspector or other 
officer. 
In order to avoid the slaughter of exceptionally valuable herds 
or flocks, a proviso might be added, as follows : — 
(c.) That if the owner of an animal or animals give notice 
in writing to the Inspector or other officer of the Local 
Authority that he objects to the animal or animals 
being slaughtered, it shall not be lawful for the Local 
Authority to slaughter such animal or animals except 
with the special authority of the Privy Council first 
obtained. 
I am aware that many stock-owners entertain a strong objection 
to slaughter in cases of foot-and-mouth disease ; but in dis- 
cussing the point they are apt to lose sight of the fact tliat the 
remedy is for adoption in isolated cases only, and as a simple 
and effectual means to a most important end. Again, although 
the disease generally yields to proper treatment,* the risk of its 
spreading whilst cure is being attempted is stupendous ; and 
every fresh centre multiplies indefinitely the difficulty of checking 
its ravages. Immediate slaughter is therefore not only the 
safest course, but, in the great majority of cases, the most econo- 
mical — as has been abundantly shown by the experience gained 
in Cumberland and elsewhere. 
Further, it should not be forgotten that whenever England 
is unable to show a clean bill of health in respect of foot-and- 
• Hyposulphite of soda has, in my neighbourhood, been found eflScacious both 
for curative and prophylactic purposes; 4 oz. dissolved in hot water being given 
to each bullock or cow twice a week, and the whole body, as well as the mouth, 
being washed with a weak solution of carbolic acid. 
When in Austria and Hungary, I learned that the following treatment had 
been found very eflScacious : — 
" Take honey, 1 lb., muriatic acid, \\ oz. ; mix them well with a wooden spoon 
in an earthenware vessel ; apply, with a wooden spatula, about a small dessert- 
spoonful to the tongue three times a day, leaving the animal to distribute it over 
the inside of its mouth by the champing motion, which is sure to follow its appli- 
cation. 
" For the feet : take aloes, ^ oz., rectified spirit, J pint, alum, ^ oz. ; dissolve 
them in one pint of water ; mix, and apply a little twice a day between the 
claws. 
" In addition to the above treatment, rye, or other meal, ground very fine, 
should be placed in the manger— a little being dusted over the noses of the 
animals in order to induce them to eat ; the meal bein.2; almost impalpable, they 
will lick a little without increasing the irritation." — J. H. 
YOL. XXII. — S. S. C 
