Contagious Cattle Diseases in Yoi-kshire. I8l 
seldom terminates fatally, the loss from death amongst cattle 
being trifling, and amongst sheep almost infinitesimal. 
"On the other hand, Pleuro- Pneumonia is as fatal as ever; 
and Irom the Returns we may conclude that 50 per cent, of 
the animals attacked by this disease fall victims to it. I feel 
satisfied that immediate slaughter will always be lound the best 
resource for the farmer whose stock is affected, even if there be 
no compensation awarded, as the flesh of the animal when first 
attacked is not generally considered to be unfit for food,* and the 
chance of recovery is most uncertain. 1 am, however, very much 
inclined to believe that if all animals suffering from Pleuro- 
pneumonia were slaughtered as soon as they were attacked, 
and if a reasonable compensation were made to the owner, 
this disease might soon be eradicated, supposing the system 
i to be universally and compulsorily carried out. At present 
I different local authorities take different views of the best 
course to pursue, and there is not sufficient uniformity in their 
proceeding. 
" VVe find that in 187U, in the East Riding of York, out of 
I 73,575 cattle, only 6 died from Foot and Mouth Disease, and 
\ none from Pleuro-Pneumonia. In the IVorth, out of 143,730, 
100 died or were killed in consequence of Foot and Mouth 
Disease, and 30 in consequence of Pleuro-Pneumonia. In the 
West, out of 220,986, 117 died or were killed on account 
of Foot and Mouth Disease, ami 148 on account of Pleuro- 
Pneumonia, so that out of 438,291 cattle, 401 died from these 
diseases, being about one in 1000. In 1871, in the East 
Riding, the losses from Foot and Mouth Disease were, 18 from 
Pleuro-Pneumonia, and 20 from Foot and Mouth Disease, out 
of 72,406 ; in the North 57 from Pleuro-Pneumonia, and 61 
from Foot and Mouth Disease, out of 140,220 ; in the West, 81 
from Pleuro-Pneumonia, and 113 from Foot and. Mouth Disease, 
out of 217,088 ; making a total loss from both diseases of 340 
, out of 429,714, being a rather more favourable return than for 
1870, in spite of the widespread outbreak of Foot and Mouth 
Disease in the autumn of that year. On the whole, therefore, 
I cannot but hope that the Acts are working: satisfactorilv, 
when I compare this loss with the losses which occurred under 
my own personal observation before the days of the Cattle 
* Since writing the above. I find that the Local Government Board have intro- 
duced the " Public Health Bill," which proposes to enact, in clauses 44 and 45, 
that " all milk of any animal suffering from any contagious or infectious disease, 
as defined by the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, 1869, or from any tubercular 
disease, shall be deemed unwholesome and to be mitit for the food of man, and 
that any person selling for hiunan food any animal, carcase or meat, so diseased 
■ shall oM conviction, pay a penalty not e xceeding 20/." 
