EDITORIAL OBSERVATIONS. 
8 87 
to all practical men, and at the meeting referred to the 
effect of wet seasons was admitted, but the prevailing opinion 
was that the wet soil was only a favouring condition, whilst 
the true cause of the spreading of the disease was infection. 
Mr. Noakes, M.R.C.V.S., is reported to have said, in 
thanking the club for having invited him to be present that 
evening, he should feel it his imperative duty to express an 
opinion that was diametrically opposed to the opinions of 
many eminent members of the profession. The leading 
veterinary professors had held that foot-rot was not a con¬ 
tagious disease. In his opinion it was one of the most con¬ 
tagious diseases known to any class of animals. He had 
arrived at this conclusion after having seen the most de¬ 
monstrative proofs of its contagious nature, and he felt he 
would only be performing his duty in saying so. Their 
president had said that the only way of stamping out the 
disease, which he had very properly called a plague to the 
country, was to get it scheduled as a contagious disease under 
the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act. He was very much 
surprised at its not having been so scheduled. He should 
be able to prove conclusively that foot-rot was quite as con¬ 
tagious as scab, the foot-and-mouth disease, the cattle plague, 
or pleuro-pneumonia (hear, hear). He would not stop at his 
own experience, nor would he depend upon the experience of 
his friends, but would, if allowed, go back to some of the 
ancient writers and then to modern opinion. ‘ Spooner on 
Sheep 5 believed it to be decidedly contagious. This book 
was written many years since. Now, contagiouists had said 
that diseased sheep had failed to produce it on dry lands. 
This w r as, however, not sufficient to establish its non-con- 
tagiousness, as when the hoof is dry, strong, and free from 
cracks and fissures, there was no disposition to absorb. 
‘ Blacklock on Sheep ; had said, (t It is so prevalent in downs 
and pleasure grounds that they are in many instances reduced 
in value as a mere trifle as a pasture for sheep—they are said 
to be infected with this disease—and having once become so 
the vicissitudes of seven years are scarcely sufficient to destroy 
the contagion.” If this remained in the land for seven 
years, and the contagion was still there, why should it not 
