FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. 
579 
portant, because it was impossible to replace the stoc]c thus pre¬ 
maturely sold, and the pastures could therefore not be stocked as 
they should be in the interests of both the producer and the 
consumer. In this way both the immediate and the future 
supply of meat was prejudicially affected, and the question had 
become so serious that all possible precautions were requisite to 
prevent the transit of diseased animals. With reference to the 
precautions needed Mr. Thompson stated that the experience 
gained in his own county showed that outbreaks of foot-and- 
mouth disease almost invariably followed the importation of Irish 
cattle into a district. He attributed this in great measure to the 
fact that the restrictions at present existing are not thoroughly 
carried into effect, in consequence of the authorities in many large 
towns refusing to insist upon their being properly enforced. He 
thanked Mr. Torster, on behalf of the deputation, for the firm¬ 
ness with which he had withstood the pressure put upon him by 
deputations of a certain class, the objects of which were more 
easily analysed after the event than at the moment. Tor instance, 
persons interested in the cattle trade at an inland town would get 
up a strong deputation to protest against the slaughter of cattle 
at a seaport, on the ground that the inhabitants of the latter 
would benefit by the reduction of the price of meat there at the 
expense of a populous inland town. 
Mr. Forster asked whether Mr. Thompson referred to home or 
foreign cattle, because the Privy Council was responsible for the 
importation of foot-and-mouth disease by the medium of foreign 
cattle, but they were not in any way responsible for the result of 
the movement of home-stock. 
Mr. Thompson replied that he referred specially to the con¬ 
sequences arising from the importation of cattle from Ireland, 
and expressed the hope that the Privy Council had the same 
power over Irish as foreign stock. 
Mr. Forster having replied to this in the negative, 
Mr. Thompson read the following series of resolutions passed 
by the special committee appointed by the Council of the Pcoyal 
Agricultural Society at their meeting on Wednesday: 
1. That the foot-and-mouth disease, in an unusually virulent 
form, is at the present time extensively prevalent and rapidly 
increasing. 
2. That in the case of both cattle and sheep it causes great 
loss of condition and a certain per-centage of deaths, especially 
amongst the young stock. 
3. That the supplies of meat available for market are in con¬ 
sequence materially diminished and the price proportionately 
enhanced. 
