236 
The Outbreak of Cattle-Plague. 
trict, the case is different. He thought the cattle-plague could be controlled if 
complete isolation were carried out, and if the slaughter is also carried out 
vigorously. We should thus see, as in Hull and in Lincolnshire, the cattle- 
plague could be entirely got rid of. In Middlesex there is great difficulty in 
carrying out complete isolation, and a stronger hand is required than the local 
authority. The places where the cattle-plague now lurks are where it is the 
habit to herd a large number of cattle for milking purposes. He should like 
to know whether in the case of the outbreak at Willesden it is in a dairy where 
a large number of cows are herded ? 
Professor Simonds : It is a dairy. 
Earl Spencer: It is in some way a consolation to think that the disease 
has not yet spread to where cattle are grazing out. From the high state in. 
which herded cattle are fed they are more susceptible to disease than others. 
He had not with him a copy of the order just issued by the Middlesex magis- 
trates, but he believed he was right in saying that it does not include sheep. 
No doubt Professor Simonds would bear him out in saying that on the occa- 
sion of the last great outbreak many sheep were affected with cattle-disease. 
Professor Simonds: Some twenty-five counties in England and five in 
Scotland had sheep affected with the disease in 1866. 
Earl Spencer : Sheep on the same farm with cattle also carried the disease 
in their fleeces, and in this way were a cause of danger. In making an order 
in Northamptonshire the other day it was not thought necessary to include 
sheep at that time, as cattle-plague had not appeared there, but he was 
thoroughly of opinion that if cattle-plague is actually within the boundaries of 
a district, the authorities are bound, for safety's sake, to include sheep. If the 
Middlesex magistrates have not included sbeej), he regarded it as a great 
oversight on their part ; but it would be an omission which might be overcome 
if the Government took a more active part. Before the Commission of 1865 
a great deal of evidence was adduced on the subject of contagion, and he came 
then to the conclusion that cattle-plague was almost always conveyed by 
contagion ; but he should be sorry to say that it is impossible that the air can, 
carry particles of the contagium with it. He just mentioned this, because it 
was laid down very strongly in the Eeport that in hardly any case can it be 
carried by the air. 
Mr. Dent hoped that, as the Council had on past occasions dealt with the 
matter generally, they would now deal with the Beport of the Committee 
entirely. He was sure those members of the Committee who heard what 
Professor Brown said on the previous day with regard to the recklessness of 
drovers and butchers' men in going from dairy to dairy, must apprehend great 
danger from that cause. The Committee put the question to Professor Brown 
why such persons had not been prosecuted, and the reply was, that it is the 
duty of the local authority to institute such prosecutions. The Committee 
had come to the conclusion that in a large county like Middlesex, the local 
authority are not strong enough, and he hoptd the Council would think also- 
that in the Home Counties, at all events during the present outbreak, the 
Government should take the matter into their own hands, and strictly carry 
out the law. 
The Hon. W. Egerton, M.P., supported the views of the Committee with, 
regard to the Government taking upon themselves the responsibility of carrying 
out the orders in the Home Counties. This would, of course, involve very 
great expense, and possibly a fund would be required from Government ; and 
he thought the Council should, at the proposed interview with the Lord Pre- 
sident of the Privy Council, also urge upon his Grace to take all requisite steps 
to carry out the order. The Council had the strongest possible case to go 
before the Government, and ask them to make more stringent regulations with 
regard to the movement of human beings in cases of outbreaks of disease. It 
