928 
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE. 
I 
articles illustrative of tlie habits of animals, and condemna¬ 
tory of the disregard which is manifested for their feelings, 
even by those who would disdain to actually injure them. 
Mr. Fleming's paper on Mutilation of Horses^ Tails/’ 
and the article on London Macadam Roads/’ are pungent, 
and to the point, striking at palpable and quite inexcusable 
abuses. Some of the communications seemed to us to adopt 
the extreme view of assuming the possession of human sensi¬ 
bility by the lower animals, and to put sentimentality in the 
place of humanity in their advocacy of a superstitious reve¬ 
rence for life in all its forms; but on every subject opinions 
will vary according to idiosyncracy. 
The object of the work must command sympathy and 
support, and its extensive circulation cannot be otherwise 
than beneficial. 
Extracts from British and Foreign Journals. 
EOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN RELATION TO THE MEAT 
AND MILK SUPPLY. 
Diseases of the lower animals are not only interesting to 
the student of comparative pathology, they also constitute 
an integral part of all questions which have reference to the 
supply of animal food for human consumption; and it seems 
a singularl}^ unfortunate circumstance that animals which 
furnish us wdth meat and other alimentary material are espe¬ 
cially liable to the most virulent forms of disease—for example, 
typhus, trichiniasis, and ^^measles” of the pig; variola, scab, 
and liver rot of the sheep; cattle plague, splenic apoplexy, 
and foot and mouth disease of the ox. 
The last-named malady has prevailed in this country since 
1839, and has assumed a very virulent form at dilferent times 
since its introduction. At no period, however, has its spread 
been more rapid than during the last few months. Since last 
June the reported number of attacks exceeds 30,000, and 
probably 50,000 would be much nearer the truth. Very few 
counties in England have escaped; and the disease prevails 
on the continent even to a greater extent than it does in our 
own country. 
