66 
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. 
the causes which influence its propagation, and have placed 
too much reliance upon the asserted infallibility of various 
specifics recommended to their notice by ignorant persons; 
but dearly-purchased experience during the existence of 
cattle-plague has not been without fruit. A few years ago 
a measure which proposed to restrict the movement of 
animals affected with mouth and foot disease and other con- 
tagious affections was almost, without exception, opposed by 
owners of stock; but so far has the agricultural public 
advanced in its estimation of sanitary legislation, that a much 
more severe measure has just received the royal sanction, 
not only with the concurrence of the farmers of this country, 
but absolutely incompliance with their demand. 
It is hopeful to perceive among breeders a growing recog- 
nition of the importance of dealing promptly with contagious 
and infectious diseases of animals, upon the principle that 
the destruction which such affections cause is the loss of so 
much bone and muscle to the nation. In spite of all that has 
been said and probably yet will be said respecting the duty of 
the physician in the presence of pain and disease, the fact 
still remains that the time spent in the attempt to cure 
preventible maladies is wasted ; and when from the nature of 
of the disease it must inevitably happen that every cure 
effected involves the sacrifice of many healthy animals which 
are within the sphere of contagion, the proceeding is some- 
thing worse than waste of time — it amounts to reckless and 
prodigal w 7 aste of animal life. 
Fatal results do not usually follow the attack of the 
epizootic w 7 hich is now under consideration; it is, therefore, 
possible to discuss deliberately the means of cure as well as 
those of prevention, and it is not improbable that an investi- 
gation into the circumstances under w r hich the disease first 
appeared in this country, its subsequent irregular progress, 
with an account of the observations which have been made in 
reference to its nature, causes, symptoms, results, treatment, 
and prevention, may lead to a more rational comprehension 
of these points than at present appears to prevail. 
Introduction of Mouth and Foot Disease into 
England, and its progress to the present time. 
Like some other and more fatal diseases of animals, eczema 
appears to have prevailed extensively on the Continent before 
it reached this country. Nothing w r as known of the malady 
in England before the end of the summer of 1839; but an 
epizootic, which was probably a virulent form of mouth and 
foot disease, is alluded to by Mills as having made great 
