280 
The Progress of Legislation against 
of it in the United Kingdom, and at a time when considerable 
numbers of swine were sent to England. In 1878 it was added 
to the list of contagious diseases, and returns were ordered to 
be made of its outbreaks. The twelve years of these published 
returns record 272,878 animals as having been attacked ; and as 
about 80 per cent, of those affected die, it becomes apparent that 
a further serious calamity has befallen the nation, and regret 
arises that more decided steps than those adopted are not 
enforced to stamp it out. The same difficulty is experienced 
as was so long suffered to stand in the way of exterminating 
pleuro-pneumonia — namely, conflicting local authorities and 
compensation for slaughter from the local rates. It has been 
stated that difficulties present themselves in connection with 
swine fever that did not exist in the case of pleuro-pneumonia. 
These difficulties have, however, been surmounted in my own 
county, as they surely could be in others. 1 
Anthrax is another new disease, supposed to have been 
introduced with foreign wool. When the first outbreaks were 
reported it was usually considered that it was only a more 
virulent form of quarter-ill, with which it has been confounded 
by some members of the profession ; but that feeling is now 
altogether dispelled — quarter-ill attacks cattle only, and rarely 
affects animals exceeding two years old. Anthrax kills both 
young and old, and all animals of the farm are susceptible ; in 
fact it becomes difficult to specify the animal that is not subject 
to its deadly attack. It has long been known as the wool- 
sorters’ disease in London and other places where foreign wools 
are manipulated. The wool-sorter who may happen to have a 
scratch upon his hand that he may bring into contact with a 
spot of dry blood on the wool he is sorting unknowingly 
inoculates himself, and death is the usual result. In 1889 my 
friend Mr. White, Manor Farm, Zeals, Wilts, lost a calf very 
suddenly, and he concluded it was quarter-ill. By some means 
his pigs obtained access to the calf and soon showed symptoms 
of the disease ; their throats became much swollen, and his 
veterinary surgeon pronounced it to be quinsy. The pigs died 
shortly afterwards. His cows were turned to graze where the 
pigs had died ; one morning a cow was found dead. A man 
had the cow to boil for his pigs, and they died, and so did the 
man’s cats. More cows became ill, and twelve cows in all 
died. He lost two valuable horses and his son’s hunter. 
1 A Departmental Committee of tlie Board of Agriculture was appointed on 
February 7, 1893, to inquire into and report upon Swine Fever. The Report is 
referred to on p. 438 . — Ed. 
