NORTH OF ENGLAND VETERINARY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION. 659 
“ precautionary measures” to be adopted for the purpose of stopping the 
spread of the diseases, such as burning the bodies, hides, &c., or other¬ 
wise thrown into deep pits dug for the purpose. 
This, gentlemen, is the law as it at present exists for preventing the 
importation of cattle affected with contagious or infectious diseases. ° 
At.the port of London, where the largest importations arrive, a staff of 
veterinary officers and quarantine sheds and killing shops are provided, 
the latter at the expense of the Steam Navigation Company owning the 
cattle boats. At the outports where cattle are imported, veterinary in¬ 
spectors, now, I am informed, necessarily members of one of the recog¬ 
nised Colleges, are appointed by the Board of Trade. All cattle, irrespec¬ 
tive of numbers or the port of embarkation, are examined, the fee for 
such being 10s. 6d. per cargo; in London, however, the inspectors are 
paid one guinea for every day they are employed. 
From my experience of the system during the time I have acted as in¬ 
spector at this port, I am perfectly satisfied that the system works well. 
Every advantage is attempted to be taken by the foreign cattle dealers, 
and by their agents, the English cattle salesmen; but, as on the other 
hand, every assistance and support’ is rendered by the Custom House, 
and by its officers, it is the inspector’s fault if his authority is not’properly 
recognised. 
When first appointed here I had several importations of foot and 
mouth diseases, and threats, entreaties, veterinary tribunals, and law suits 
were alike’ pointed at my devoted head, and with the like result, viz., 
increased obstinacy on my part not to allow any addition to the already 
overstocked market of murrained animals. A more pitiable and 
loathsome sight than the crippled, slavering wretches presented, it 
is difficult to imagine, and my qualms of conscience never ceased until I 
saw the carcases in the killing shop. Never under any circumstances 
have I objected to the sale of the meat from these animals, indeed, it is 
surprising to find what is so foul without so fair within. 
This is the law, gentlemen, and its present working, so far as the im¬ 
portation of foreign cattle is concerned; and, as in my opinion, febrile 
diseases of a contagious and infectious type, affecting our domesticated 
animals, are on the increase both here and abroad, I, for one, am anxious 
to see this law, however imperfect it may be, fully carried out until a 
better is substituted; and if we are to retain the right of freely circu¬ 
lating those infectious ailments we at present possess, do not let us fly to 
those we know not of, and whilst we open our ports to the free trade of 
the foreigner—whose presence has become, I regret to say, almost a 
necessity—let us at least require that he visit us with clean hands. 
And now, gentlemen, I turn to the recent attempts at legislation on 
this subject, the results of which, I fear, like Mahomet’s coffin, are in a 
state of indescribable suspension. 
During the past Session a Bill was brought into Parliament, which 
after being referred to a Select Committee for amendment, presented the 
following title, viz., “ A Bill to make further Provisions for the Preven¬ 
tion of Infectious Diseases amongst Cattleand its preamble states that 
“ It is expedient to consolidate and amend the law for the prevention of 
the spread of contagious or infectious diseases amongst cattle in the 
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.” 
Most of my hearers, doubtless, are as conversant with the provisions of 
the Bill as myself, I shall therefore allude only to some of the leading points. 
1st. It proposes to take cognizance of horses, mules, asses, neat cattle 
of every description, sheep, goats, and swine. 
2nd, The terms “ infectious ” and “ contagious diseases,” are intended 
