274 
The Progress of Legislation against 
attendant upon the waste of the home produce, and the necessity 
of guarding it against such waste. 
Cattle plague having been again imported in 1877, the 
country was further alarmed. The measures adopted for stamp- 
ing it out, although only a few months in operation, were 
attended with a similar effect in reducing in a marked manner 
the other diseases. This fact further strengthened the hands of 
those who for so many years had earnestly appealed for the 
extermination of these diseases by wise, well-considered laws. 
A Select Committee of the House of Lords was appointed 
in 1878 to consider the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill, and 
to report. Previous to the passing of that very excellent Act 
41 & 42 Victoria, cap. lxxiv., they ordered the Bill to be 
reported, with some amendments. 
The Act came into operation on October 1, 1878, and at the 
close of 1879 foot-and-mouth disease was so nearly exterminated 
(according to the report of the Veterinary Department of the 
Privy Council) that it was looked upon as a thing of the past. 
In fact England and Wales was declared free on January 17, 
1880, and, there is no reason to doubt, would have remained so 
had it not been for the importation of the disease in a cargo from 
France, landed at Deptford, September 20, 1880. In a few days 
it was reported as being in a London dairy-shed. The Metro- 
politan Market was then open. The same salesmen and 
butchers travelled to and fro between Deptford and Islington. 
The same drovers attended the cattle in the lairs at each market, 
feeding and watering, without resort to any precautionary 
measures ; and it is difficult to conceive a more certain means of 
spreading a disease which is so contagious that Professor 
Simonds has stated he could convey it on the end of his walking- 
stick. The number of cases rapidly increased, and by the close 
of the year the returns of the Veterinary Department showed 
that the number of animals attacked in 1880 was 32,378 ; in 
1881, 183,046; in 1882, 37,950; in 1883, 461,145; and in 
1884, 28,221 ; making a total of 742,740 in the five years. 
This unsatisfactory state of affairs formed no matter for sur- 
prise when an examination was made of the returns of the 
animals imported while suffering with the disease. These show 
that in 1880 there were 155 landed with foot-and-mouth disease ; 
in 1881, 4,977; in 1882, 595; in 1883, 1,172; and in 1884, 
138, making a total of 7,037. 
At the close of 1879 Ireland was rendered free, and Scotland 
had been free for about twelve months — an advantage enjoyed by 
the latter country until the spring of 1882, when two cases 
occurred which were quickly got rid of. Ireland continued free 
