Contagious Diseases of Live Stock. 
263 
Journal tlie Veterinary Committee of the Society, in concert 
with Professor Sewell, of the Royal Veterinary College, report 
upon it as an “ epidemic among cattle,” giving “ a concise and 
practical statement of its symptoms and treatment for the 
information of the members,” this being followed by “ recommen- 
dations of the simplest remedies at present in use for arresting 
the progress of the disorder.” It was added, “The Committee 
would strongly recommend the disordered animals to be kept 
apart from the other stock, as there is much doubt whether the 
disease does not partake both of an epidemic and infectious 
character.” 
In the Appendix to the second volume of the Journal a 
further report is given. Circulars having been sent to each 
member of the Society “ containing queries for information on 
the nature and extent of the prevailing epidemic among cattle and 
other domestic stock,” nearly 700 communications were received 
and generalised by Professor Sewell in the report, dated July 17, 
1841. 
This report states that foot-and-mouth disease first appeared 
in England in 1839, that nearly the whole of those who sent 
communications had suffered from its attacks, and that “ all kinds 
of stock were indiscriminately attacked, even poultry, dogs, cats, 
and deer.” One correspondent “ stated that himself and all his 
family and domestics were attacked in consequence cf using the 
milk of his diseased cows.” It was believed that neither situation, 
nature of the soil, nor general features or aspect of the country 
afforded any exemption from the disease, neither had the quarter 
from which the wind blew any influence. The “ inflammatory 
action was more intense and the disease more fatal among animals 
that travelled to fairs or markets, by which it was introduced 
into premises and farms heretofore exempt, and thus became 
disseminated in healthy districts.” “Fever was increased by 
fatigue in travelling ; the feet became acutely inflamed, causing 
the hoofs to shed or exfoliate, and many animals were in conse- 
quence slaughtered on the roads.” 
In those days there were no laws for the prevention of 
cruelty to animals, and it is said that, after business, baskets full 
of sheeps’ trotters were swept together in the sheep pens of the 
Old Smithfield Market. Such was the revolting cruelty to which 
the dumb animals were subjected. 
The information obtained by the Veterinary Committee of 
the Royal Agricultural Society left but little room for doubt 
respecting the infectious and contagious nature of the disease 
but the circulation of the report was almost exclusively limited 
to the pages of the Journal of the Society. 
