54 
during the cold frozen months, if was checked, otherways we might have had in 
Canada a wide spread visitation of the unwelcome Foot-and-Mouth disease. 
In view of our rapidly increasing importation which even no w are considerable at 
one Canadian Port alone, Quebec (where our government has wisely established a 
quarantine where we place all cattle, sheep and swine for eight days, and subject 
them to inspection and disinfection) 104 cattle, 336 sheep, 23 swine have this season 
already been imported from European ports—mostly from England. Hitherto these 
cattle were allowed in Canada, and still in this Country, to be transferred direct from the 
ocean steamer or ship to the inland steamer or railroad truck without any inspection, 
and spread over the whole country—now I may ask whether this, as a matter of business, 
would be looked upon as a par with the shrewd business precautions of our merchants. 
Does it not seem even to the importers themselves as a very “ penny-wise and pound 
foolish” way of doing business, and does a government which allows such a state of mat¬ 
ters to continue not assume a very serious responsibility in thus exposing the people 
who elect them to the positions of trust and honour to which they are appointed for 
purpose of framing and carrying out wise laws for the protection and well-being of the 
lives and property of the people. Gentlemen, we cannot urge this subject too 
forcibly ; we should have but one voice on this question—or our profession will lack in 
its duty and indirectly must share the responsibility ; should our noble herds be invad¬ 
ed and destroyed by disease, which is so easily prevented, but so difficult to deal with 
once it is amongst us. I have been told that we are quite safe, as these diseases are 
disappearing in England, that the precautions taken there are sufficient to ensure us 
against any diseased animals leaving the country. To show you how untrue this is I 
will take the liberty of reading an article from the North British Agricultural on 
the subject, November 3d, 1S75. 
“Foot-and-mouth disease has prevailed very generally and seriously throughout the 
Midland countries of England. Observant and experienced stockowners declare that 
during the past summer it has been unusually virulent ; that sheep, hitherto infre¬ 
quently slight sufferers have been attacked as frequently and severely as cattle ; that 
losses quite equal to those caused by cattle plague have been entailed ; that the meas¬ 
ures enjoined for its suppression are lamentably weak and ineffectual; that fresh ontbursts 
of the disease are constantly traceable to the droves of Irish cattle which travel the 
Western and Midland countries. Careless negligence and culpable reticence are 
complained of in reporting outbreaks of disease. From infected herds and flocks 
animals still apparently sound are picked out, and with selfish inconsiderateness, are 
sent to the public markets and sales, where they disseminate contagion. The inspec¬ 
tion of these public fairs or sales, where the cattle or sheep from many sources are 
congregated, is seldom effected with requisite care or at the proper time. Instead of 
being present whilst the stock are entering the markets or fairs, and when the infected 
or suspicious subjects, if discovered, might be stopped, and their power of doing harm 
minimised, inspectors under existing arrangements usually appear on the scene an hour 
or two after the stock are “placed,” and after sick animals have enjoyed ample oppor¬ 
tunity of infecting their sound fellows. This is provokingly lax practice. The 
magistrates presumed to understand, interpret, and carry out most of the provisions of 
the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, have some of them strange and inexplicable 
views relating to foot-and-mouth disease, and regard with unpardonable leniency those 
who carelessly and wantonly traffic in disease. In some quarters magistrates can 
scarcely be brought to punish persons who disregard and disobey the Council orders. 
♦ 
