EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 33 
the metropolis in respect of the forty or fifty beasts which 
still remained. 
The exhibition of 1870 went on smoothly enough until the 
last day. During the afternoon, however, of Friday, Dec. 9th, 
when the cattle were inspected, one ox was found suffering 
from foot and mouth disease, and, as on the previous occasion, 
the Commissioners of Police at once revoked all licences for 
removal of cattle from the metropolis. 
An appeal to the Government from owners and purchasers, 
however, subsequently led to an arrangement being made for 
the removal of cattle into the country. A trustworthy 
person was put in charge of each animal, who was required 
to remain with it until slaughtered. About fifty owners 
availed themselves of the conditional permission to take their 
animals out of London. 
The necessary arrangements occupied some time, and the 
Hall was not cleared until the Thursday after the termination 
of the show ; meanwhile the disease extended to eight animals 
besides the one first attacked, and exclusive also of diseased 
animals which were removed into the metropolis, and of 
which no account was taken. 
No satisfactory evidence of the origin of the outbreak was 
obtained in either this or the former instance. According to 
the theory which ascribes all infectious diseases of stock to 
foreign importation, the malady was due to contact of the ani- 
mals with some Dutch cattle at Maiden Lane Station. On the 
other hand persons who take an unprejudiced view of the 
whole situation do not fail to appreciate the fact that foot and 
mouth disease is much more prevalent in our own country 
than it is on the continent, and that, therefore, cattles route 
to anywhere run far greater risks of infection from contact 
with home-bred than with foreign stock. Further, there is 
the medical aspect of the question, which has been often insisted 
upon, but which is nevertheless constantly ignored, the period 
of incubation of foot and mouth disease is very short. If we 
allow four days from the time of infection to the manifesta- 
tions of decided symptoms of illness we shall exceed the limits 
of the incubative stage in by far the majority of cases ; yet 
3 
XLIV. 
