ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 863 
power to declare the port of Silloth, or any other port in this county 
where Irish cattle are landed, an infected place, when pleuro is found 
there, in the same manner as a farmstead may now be declared an 
infected place, and subject to the like rules and restrictions.—I am, Sir, 
your obedient servant. 
(Signed) T. H. Hodgson 
Clerk to the Local Authority. 
The Clerk of the Council, Veterinary Department, Privy Council 
Office, London. 
Mr. Wakefield said he desired to ask the co-operation of the Society in 
the matter alluded to in the letter from the Cumberland Local Authority. 
It had been very frequently before owners of cattle in Cumberland and 
Westmoreland, but they were perfectly powerless. He thought it was 
generally known and admitted that the inspection on the other side of 
the Channel was merely a delusion and a sham, and he earnestly hoped 
that all possible assistance would be given to arouse the Government to 
the necessity of seeing that the officers on the other side performed their 
duty. 
Mr. Dent stated that there had recently been five outbreaks of pleuro¬ 
pneumonia in the West Riding of Yorkshire; and he had been informed 
that in each case they were traceable to Irish cattle which had been 
bought for feeding. Undoubtedly more stringent regulations ought to 
be enforced. The evil was very great, and ought to be stopped by the 
Government; but he was afraid that no more stringent regulations could 
be carried out without the consent of Parliament. He was sorry that 
Professor Brown had been obliged to leave the Council, as he might 
have been in a position to give some useful information; but with regard 
to foot-and-mouth disease, perhaps Professor Simonds could tell the 
Council where it came from, and where and to what extent it is in 
existence. 
Professor Simonds said that so far as concerned the power that the Local 
Authorities have, or the Government has, with reference to animals 
landed from Ireland, it was simply that the animals already subject to 
disease could be killed, but they had no power to detain animals which 
had been in contact with those so affected. This was doubtless a blot 
in the Act, and if they could possibly find a way to have it remedied it 
would be right to do so. He believed it was generally admitted that 
foot-and-mouth disease had found its way from the cattle market at 
Deptford. Some animals landed there were affected and killed, and as 
this was one of the diseases conveyed by mediate infection, it was by 
that means that the disease made its escape from Deptford, the infection 
having been carried by individuals. There could be no doubt that the 
Local Authority would make use of all possible precautions so as to arrest 
the progress of the disease; but unfortunately it always happened in 
this country that when these outbreaks occurred they assumed a very 
serious form—a fact which clearly demonstrated the importance of 
exercising all the restrictions permitted by law. 
The Eon. W. Egerton , M.P., expressed his opinion that the Council 
should call the attention of the Privy Council to the letter addressed to 
them by the local authority of the County of Cumberland; and after some 
further discussion, it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr. Dent , 
seconded by Mr. Wakefield .— 
That the President of the Society be requested to call the attention of 
the Privy Council to the letter received from the Clerk of the Peace of 
the County of Cumberland relative to an outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia, 
