FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. 
25 
With a disease like pleuro-pneumonia it is, however, very 
difficult to say when a district is free from the infection, as 
so long a time often elapses between the cases on the same 
farm; but it is nevertheless encouraging to find that the disease 
is held in check by the provisions of the law. More energy 
on the part of the local authorities and a better system of 
inspection, would do much towards a still further suppression 
of the malady, and what is of equal importance is a uniformity 
of action by the authorities of the several counties. Without 
these things we cannot hope to free the country of pleuro¬ 
pneumonia, even if it were possible to return to the days 
when the total prohibition of foreign cattle was in force. 
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. 
A continuance of increased vigilance on the part of the local 
authority has resulted in a further diminution of the cases of 
this disease, although we have still to reckon them by thou¬ 
sands in some parts of England and Scotland. Irish cattle, 
by being moved from the place of import to different parts of 
the country, continue to be a fruitful source of mischief; but 
now that farmers have in a great measure filled up their 
stocks, this cause of the extension of the malady will be 
much diminished. 
With the exception of two sheep out of a lot of fifty im¬ 
ported into Hartlepool from Hamburg, no returns of diseased 
foreign cattle have been received, during December, from 
the inspectors. In this case the whole of the animals were 
slaughtered at the port. From the Continent in general the 
information received is to the effect that the decrease in the 
cases of the disease, to which we have formerly referred, 
continues to be maintained. 
From and after December 31st, the local authority will not 
be required to give notice to the Privy Council of the exist¬ 
ence of foot-and-mouth disease; but may, from time to time, 
with a view to prevent its spreading make regulations for the 
following purposes, or any of them:—For prohibiting or 
regulating the movement out of any field, stable, cowshed, 
or any premises in which the foot-and-mouth disease has been 
found to exist, of any animal that has been in the same field, 
stable, cowshed, or other premises, with or in contact with 
any animal affected with foot-and-mouth disease. Notice of 
an outbreak is, however, to be given by the owner of the 
animal to a police-constable, and by him to the inspector 
of the local authority. 
