EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 31 
the feeder has an ox of specially fine quality and exceptional 
weight, he sends the animal to the London market; if he 
has a beast which shows signs of failing from any unknown 
cause, no receptacle is so convenient, so well known, and 
yet, as far as the identification of the animal is concerned, 
so obscure, as the London market. Such in effect is the 
testimony of a former chairman of the market, before a 
committee of the House of Commons, and such is the 
experience of all practical men. 
It is true that in the Contagious Diseases (Animals) 
Act, and in Orders of Council which are still in force, there are 
provisions which, if properly carried out, will much diminish 
the danger to which we have alluded. For example, owners 
of infectiously diseased animals are bound to give notice 
of the existence of disease, and the local authority has power 
to make regulations in reference to the movement of ani¬ 
mals which have been herded with diseased ones : the move- 
ment of the affected animals being already prohibited by 
the Act; but it would be too much to expect that any regu¬ 
lations will entirely prevent the exposure of diseased and 
infected animals in the metropolitan market, and their 
subsequent distribution over the country, or sufficiently 
supply the place of the barrier which has just been removed. 
Referring to foot-and-mouth disease, it is worthy of remark 
that a difficulty exists which has not been provided for. 
According to the terms of the 59th section of the Act any 
person who exposes in a market or fair, or moves along a 
public road, railway, or canal, any animal affected with 
a contagious or infectious disease is liable to penalties; and 
the local authorities are empowered to seize the diseased 
animals, and, in case of foot-and-mouth disease, detain them 
in a convenient place for such period as they may deem 
necessary. 
The pressure of this clause was considerably relaxed 
in the metropolis by a clause in the Metropolitan Order, 
which is now revoked, providing that animals becoming 
affected with the disease in the metropolitan market or in the 
lairs may be moved to a slaughter-house with a police 
license. 
