Contagious Diseases of Live Stock. 
279 
authorities. So rapid was the spread of the disease that reports 
of outbreaks came in quick succession from Kent, Surrey, Sussex 
(East), Midlothian, Essex, Middlesex, Sussex (West), York 
(West Riding), Lanark, Westmoreland, Renfrew, Chester, Perth, 
Lancaster, and from Midlothian of a second outbreak ; but in 
every instance the disease was dealt with as a fire would be, and its 
complete extermination was secured on August 27. Notwith- 
standing the energy displayed, there were 95 outbreaks, 5,265 
animals attacked, 585 diseased animals slaughtered, and 151 
died. A further alarm was caused at the close of the year by 
an outbreak in a cowhouse in North London. Nine cows were 
killed on New Year’s Day ; six of these were diseased. Every 
precaution was taken and the disease was stamped out. On 
February 17, 1893, a further outbreak was reported from 
Guestling, six miles from Hastings. Happily it was of a mild 
type, and being isolated, slaughter was not resorted to. Fortu- 
nately the cattle recovered, and no bad result has followed that 
diversion from the previous course of action. 
Reports having reached the Government early in 1892 of the 
very serious prevalence of the disease amongst the flocks and herds 
of every country in Europe, excepting Iceland, the provisions of 
the Act of 1884 were enforced, and all importations from these 
countries were prohibited. Yet no inconvenience has been ex- 
perienced, although only a few years have passed since the 
whole of our foreign meat importation came from them. The 
requirements of the nation have been met by a greatly increased 
home production, without waste from disease, and by dead meat 
largely imported from the United States of America, Australasia, 
and the Argentine Republic, with small supplies from other 
countries, whilst the price of meat has been lower than for the 
last forty years. 
The manner in which the late and the present Ministers of 
Agriculture have met each crisis, and the zeal of the staff 
attached to the Board of Agriculture in tracing the numerous 
cases of foot-and-mouth disease, and the widespread localities to 
which the Canadian cattle were removed, cannot be too warmly 
acknowledged as commanding the lasting gratitude of the 
country. 
The date of the introduction of swine fever has not been 
determined ; but that it existed as far back as 1865 cannot be 
doubted. In that year the late Dr. Budd, of Clifton, who held 
that a close relationship existed between it and typhoid fever in 
man, called the attention of agriculturists to it, and his views 
were shared by Professor Simonds. It is known that it was preval- 
ent in the United States of America before any account appeared 
