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AGRICULTURAL LIBRARY

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
SOUTHAMPTON

RINDERPEST

ABERDEENSHIRE

THE OUTBREAK OF 1865,

AND

HOW IT WAS STAMPED OUT,

ABERDEEN:

PRINTED AT THE FREE PRESS OFFICE.

PREFATORY NOTE.

The following pages; it may be right to say, lay no claim to direct
official authority. In their compilation full use has been made of
the Minutes of the Rinderpest Association and its Committees, so
as to ensure accuracy as to the main points ; and the newspaper
reports of the day have also been referred to for what was not em-
braced in the formal Minutes. But in addition to these sources of
information, the Compiler was so far conversant personally with
the general character of the proceedings at the time as to, at least,
enable him to avoid giving other than what he believes to be a
correct impression of the spirit and style in which the operations
of the Association were carried out by its Executive.

RINDERPEST in ABERDEENSHIRE.

THE OUTBREAK OF 1 865,

AND

HOW IT WAS STAMPED OUT.

Introductory .

midsummer of 1865, the tenant-farmers
stockowners generally of Aberdeenshire
alarmed and perplexed in no ordinary
measure by reports, which by and by proved to be only
too well founded, that the fatal cattle disease known as
rinderpest , or steppe murrain, had been introduced into
this country. The first known outbreak was reported to
have occurred amongst dairy cows at Islington, London ;
and the rapid spread of the plague into other localities
seemed imminent. It was on 29th June that two or three
cows out of six bought by Mr. Nicholls, an Islington
dairyman, were reported as having been seized by the
plague ; and by the close of J uly the disease had so spread
that hundreds of animals had died, or been slaughtered.
The statement, indeed, that £30,000 worth of stock had
by that date been lost by dairymen in the Metropolis
alone, was believed to be probably under the truth ; and
there had been outbreaks at points in several of the
midland counties. What this terrible plague of the bovine
race might be like, was the first thought amongst those

6 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

directly interested. And people who were more or less
“ read up,” declared that, though hitherto hardly known in
Britain — at anyrate otherwise than historically — rinderpest,
or steppe murrain, had long been familiar to Continental
veterinarians. Inquiry into the history of this most viru-
lent of all cattle diseases showed that it had been known
for a very long period ; according to some accounts, for
two thousand years. At anyrate it appeared to have
devastated the herds of the warlike tribes who over-ran
the Roman Empire during the fourth and fifth centuries.
So early as 810 it travelled into France with the armies
of Charlemagne ; and about the same date was supposed
to have visited England, where it again prevailed in
1225. Spreading westward from the Russian steppes,
where it is indigenous, rinderpest , as the records showed,
had committed serious ravages among the herds on the
Continent of Europe, at comparatively short intervals,
during every subsequent century, though it was not till
the year 1713 or 1714 that it once more visited England.
On that occasion, too, the first outbreak occurred at
Islington, and in the month of July. In 1744 an out-
break occurred in Holland, which in two years destroyed
200,000 cattle. At that date rinderpest seems to have
spread very far, and with most disastrous results. In
Denmark, in five years — 1745-1749 — it destroyed 28,000
cattle ; and in some provinces of Sweden only 2 per
cent, of the horned cattle escaped. Its ravages through-
out Italy were frightful, 400,000 cattle having been de-
stroyed in Piedmont alone. In April, 1745, it was again
imported into England, where it prevailed more or less
for twelve years. The loss in some cases seems to have
been very great ; the number of cattle that died in
Nottinghamshire and Lancashire alone in 1747 having

How it was Stamped Out.

7

been 40,000, while so late as 1757, Cheshire lost 30,000
in six months. In 1714 the plague had apparently been
confined to London and neighbourhood by the slaugh-
tering of diseased animals, and the same remedy was
brought partially into use during the later attack, it being
stated that in 1748 as many as 80,000 cattle in all were
slaughtered, while nearly double that number died of
rinderpest. The only case on record of rinderpest having
visited Scotland was in I 77 °> when the disease was
brought to Portsoy from Holland with some hay. At
that time several cattle died of it, and others, to the
value of £799 12s. 2d., were destroyed, and its further
spread thereby prevented.

As to the symptoms and precise character of rinder-
pest only the most general impressions at first prevailed.
The most accurate information obtainable described it
as originating in a specific virus, communicable by in-
oculation or contagion, and having, like small-pox and
certain fevers, an incubative stage, varying from two or
three to twenty days after introduction of the virus into
the subject till development of the symptoms took place.
When the disease was more fully understood, it was
officially announced that rinderpest might be known by
the following symptoms : — “ Great depression of the
vital powers, frequent shivering, staggering gait, cool
extremities, quick and short breathing, drooping head,
reddened eyes, with a discharge from them, and also
from the nostrils, of a mucous nature, raw-looking places
on the inner side of the lips and roof of the mouth,
and diarrhcea, or dysenteric purging.”

It is perhaps worth while to remark here that when
plague first appeared in England, it was strongly com-
plained of the farmers and dairymen that they pursued

8 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in i86p.

the ruinous policy of keeping back information, and
seeking to conceal evidence of the existence of the
disease, and the extent to which they had suffered :
a policy to which the behaviour of the main body of
farmers in the north, as we shall see, formed a distinct
contrast.

But, if the terrible rinderpest was really threatening
or had already invaded the county which, of all others
whether in England or Scotland, had made the most
marked advance in the breeding of improved cettle of
two leading types ; the county whose farmers could
claim, to have out-distanced others in the production of
prime bullocks for the London market ; where farm
rents were mainly paid by the sale of fat cattle — the
crisis was clearly of the most serious character. And if
the spread of plague in Aberdeenshire had to be faced
as a practical question, prompt and adequate action on
the part of those directly interested was imperative.
And that it must be so faced was not long left a matter
of doubt.

The first outbreak occurred at Bogenjohn in the parish
of Strichen, the disease having been brought thither by a
calf received from London about the 20th June, through
the medium of a local dealer. The first animal died on
1st July, and betwixt that and 4th August twenty-one
had died. The second centre of disease was Westerton,
parish of Forgue. The means of infection there were
exactly the same as in the other case, viz., a calf brought
from London ; and, though the first death did not occur
till July 25th, other eighteen had died by 17th August.
In each case, it may be said, the whole of the remaining
cattle of the herd were removed and slaughtered.

Such, then, was the situation as it presented itself.

How it was Stamped Out.

9

It need hardly be said that the reports, which got into
rapid circulation, of the outbreak first, and next of the
steady progress of the plague at the centres mentioned,
were well fitted to alarm the farmers of the county gener-
ally, and to stimulate all interested in agriculture to seek
out and apply the best means of warding off, or at least
coping in the best available manner with the impending
calamity ; and it could not be otherwise viewed than as
a calamity of a very grave character.

As the subsequent action of the tenant-farmers
and landowners of the county in the formation of the
“ Aberdeenshire Rinderpest Association,” and systematic
enforcement of the policy of “stamping out” cattle
plague, by promptly slaughtering affected animals, on
the principle of remunerating such of their owners as
conformed to rules framed for the general guidance
according to a fixed scale, attracted general attention at
the time, and admittedly formed a marked example of
successful local organisation and administration on a
purely voluntary basis, it will not, it is believed, be with-
out interest, after the lapse of fifteen years, to narrate
briefly the course of events, and describe the main points
in the procedure adopted during the prevalence of Cattle
Plague in the county.

I. — Initiatory Proceedings.

The subject of rinderpest was first formally taken
up at a meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Royal
Northern Agricultural Society held on nth August,

10 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

1865. The meeting had been called by the secretaries,
Messrs J. & R. Ligertwood, advocates, in consequence of
a communication made to them by Mr. M'Combie, Tilly-
four, directing attention to the disease which had broken
out amongst cattle in London, and pointing to the pro-
priety of considering whether steps should be adopted
for mutual protection. The meeting was fully attended.
And after due discussion, during which the opinion was
freely expressed that whatever Government might be
induced to do in the exigency that had arisen, the
farmers must mainly trust to protecting themselves, it
was resolved that, “ looking to the grave nature of the
emergency, and the cases already reported as having
occurred in this county,” the Lord-Lieutenant should be
asked to call a public meeting of landowners, farmers,
and all others interested, “ for the purpose of considering
the best means of prevention.” Meanwhile, it was
agreed that two members of committee should proceed
to each of the two places in the county where disease
had been reported to exist, to make inquiry and report
to a future meeting of the committee ; the gentlemen
appointed being Messrs. Copland, Mill of Ardlethen ;
and Campbell, Blairton, who were asked to visit the
centres of disease in Buchan ; and Messrs. Reid, Grey-
stone, and Campbell, Kinellar, who were asked to visit
the centres in Forgue. The gentlemen so appointed
were at once “authorised to employ veterinary sur-
geons, and do all things necessary at the expense of
the Society.” The secretaries were also instructed “ to
procure, as far as possible, information from the railway
and steam companies of the cattle imported into the
county during the next week, and report to next meeting
of committee.”

How it was Stamped Out.

11

In accordance with the first resolution adopted by the
sub-committee of the Royal Northern Agricultural
Society, a public meeting, under the presidency of the
Earl of Kintore, as Lord-Lieutenant of the County, was
held on 18th August. At that meeting a series of four
resolutions was passed. The first resolution, moved by
Sir James D. H. Elphinstone, Bart., of Logie-Elphin-
stone, and seconded by Mr. Copland, Mill of Ardlethen,
was as follows : — ■

“ That application be made to the Secretary of State,
to extend to Scotland, without delay, the Orders
and Regulations of the Privy Council for the pre-
vention of the spread of the cattle plague in this
country; to urge on Her Majesty’s Government the
propriety of taking measures to prevent the importa-
tion of cattle from those countries where the
disease is known to exist ; and to procure and
publish from time to time such information in
regard to the disease as may be obtained from the
consuls at the various foreign cattle shipping ports,
and, in particular, the Port of Revel.”

The second resolution was moved by Mr. Leslie of
Warthill, M.P. for the county, and seconded by Mr.
George Cruickshank, Comisty, Forgue : —

“ That this meeting, in order at once to meet the present
emergency, and the loss to parties who have suf-
fered or may suffer from the loss of cattle, by
the disease of rinderpest in this county, recommend
a voluntary subscription for the current year of id.
per £ on proprietors, and id. per £ on farmers, to

12 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865,

be applied at the sight and in the discretion of the
Central Committee appointed by this meeting ;
and the meeting recommend the formation of a
Mutual Cattle Assurance Association ; and that any
balance remaining over of the voluntary subscrip-
tion shall be handed over to the Mutual Cattle
Assurance Society, if such should be established
for this county, in order to form a guarantee fund.”

On the motion of Mr. Gordon of Fyvie, seconded by
Mr. Milne of Kinaldie, a large Central Committee was
nominated to carry out the resolutions, and with power
“ to arrange for the appointment of sub-committees of
vigilance and protection in each parish or district.” And
on the motion of Major Innes of Learney, seconded by
Mr. J. W. Barclay, Auchlossan, the Central Committee
were instructed to communicate with the various district
agricultural associations, in order to their carrying out
the duties of sub-committees in their several districts.

It is not out of place here to say that the first two of
the four resolutions so promptly carried went far to shape
the whole future course and policy of the Association
which sprang out of the proceedings taken, with the
single exception, if it may be so called, that no Mutual
Assurance Society for the county was formed. The
part performed by the Government, as represented by
the Privy Council, was simply to frame Orders regulating
the importation and movement of cattle, which, in no
small part, as will appear further on, was done in accord-
ance with suggestions emanating from Aberdeenshire.
Though the question of compensation from the Imperial
Exchequer for cattle slaughtered was more or less talked
of, that principle was not conceded until after rinderpest

How it was Stamped Out.

13

had been “ stamped out ” in the county ; and the tenant-
farmers and landholders successfully met the whole re-
quirements of the case by the fixed voluntary subscription
specified in the second resolution. The machinery pro-
vided under Resolutions III. and IV., when perfected
under the formal Constitution, also worked most effici-
ently throughout.

The Central Committee, which met on same day,
directly after the public meeting, and under the presid-
ency of Mr. Gordon of Fyvie, resolved that the
members resident in Aberdeen should form a sub-
committee for consultation as to convening meetings,
framing necessary rules in accordance with the resolu-
tions passed, and for general preparation of business ;
and Mr. J. W. Barclay was appointed convener. The
Secretary was requested to send circulars, with copy of
the resolutions passed at the public meeting, to every
parish minister in the county, requesting him to call a
meeting of the farmers in his parish on an early day in
the ensuing week, with a view to their appointing two
or more of their number to correspond with the Central
Committee. The Secretary was further instructed to
send a corresponding circular to each of the secretaries
of the various district agricultural societies, inviting
him to assist in getting corresponding members appointed
in his parish, and a district committee formed, so as to
secure simultaneous and instant action throughout the
county. As indicating the promptitude with which steps
were taken, it may be stated that circulars bearing date
1 8th August — the day on which the public meeting had
been held — were within a few hours issued to all the
parish ministers in the county, and to the secretaries of
eleven district agricultural societies. And at the meet-

14 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

ing of the Central Committee a week thereafter, it was
reported that copy minutes had been received from
about fifty parishes in which meetings had been held in
response to the circular issued. At same meeting some
discussion took place as to the propriety of forming a
Mutual Cattle Assurance Association, as had been
resolved at the public meeting ; but, the chairman having
ruled that it was not competent for the committee to go
back on the resolutions, the points raised were left over.

A report by Mr. Morris, V.S., was read to the meet-
ing of 25th August by Mr. Barclay, convener of the
Acting Committee, which gave particulars of visits to
two farms in the vicinity of the town where cattle had
recently died ; and further stated that twenty-seven
dairies in and around Aberdeen had been visited. In
several cases it had been found that animals had been
affected by pleuro-pneumonia, or murrain, but only in
one case, that of a calf found in a byre in Wales Street,
were there symptoms indicative of the presence of
rinderpest.

It was at this meeting that the draft “ Constitution,
Rules, and Regulations of the Aberdeen Rinderpest
Association ” were first submitted for approval.

Id ■ — Constitution and Organisation of the
Rinderpest Association.

At the outset of the proceedings, which commenced
on nth August, the duties of the secretaryship, as indi-
cated, had devolved upon Messrs. J. & R. Ligertwood,

How it was Stamped Out.

15

secretaries of the Royal Northern Agricultural Society.
These gentlemen, while expressing themselves very will-
ing to give what assistance lay in their power, had inti-
mated that, in justice to their own business, they could
not continue their services in that capacity, and that to
facilitate a satisfactory arrangement they had resolved to
resign their official connection with the Royal Northern
Agricultural Society. In view of this resignation the
joint sub-committee of that Society and of the Aberdeen-
shire Rinderpest Association, to whom the matter had
been remitted by the Central Committee, unanimously
resolved to request Mr. J. W. Barclay to act as Honorary
Secretary to the Association, with the assistance of a
clerk, Messrs. Ligertwood acting as Honorary Treasurers.
This arrangement took effect from ist September, the
date of meeting at which the resolution mentioned was
agreed to. Previous to this, however, and indeed from
the outset of the proceedings, it had fallen to Mr. Bar-
clay to take a very active part in maturing business, and
carrying out the practical measures adopted. The draft
Constitution and Rules and Regulations submitted to
the Central Committee on 25th August, were drawn up
by him, and at once commended themselves to the meet-
ing as fully covering the requirements of the case. With
some verbal alterations, not affecting the principles laid
down, the draft, after full consideration, was formally
adopted as embodying the Constitution of the Aberdeen-
shire Rinderpest Association* The executive agency
under it consisted of the Central and Parish Committees,
county and parish Inspectors, and the Honorary Secre-
tary, whose office, in consequence of the frequent neces-

* For “ Constitution, Rules, and Regulations of the Aberdeenshire
Rinderpest Association,” in full, see Appendix A.

16 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

sity for prompt and decisive action, came to be a very
onerous and responsible one.

On 26th August, an amended Order in Council had
been issued, extending the powers of existing Orders
under the Act of 1850 for preventing the spread of infec-
tious or contagious diseases among sheep, cattle, or
other animals, to all parts of Great Britain. Under it,
authority was given to Provosts and Justices of the
Peace in Scotland, to appoint qualified inspectors, with
definite powers to carry into effect, within the districts
assigned to them, the rules and regulations made under
the new and previously existing Orders. At a meeting
of the Acting Committee, on the 29th August, the
amended Order, which prohibited the movement of
animals affected by disease, under a penalty of £ 20 , and
which had already been published in the local news-
papers, was submitted ; and it was agreed to request the
services of the Town and County Police to assist the
inspectors (of whom only one, viz., Mr. John Morris,
V.S., had at that date been appointed), in the discharge
of their duties. And it may here be said that the ser-
vices of the Aberdeenshire County Police, in particular,
intelligently and zealously directed as they were by
the Chief Constable, Major Ross, came to be of
very great value during the prevalence of rinderpest in
the county.

At the meeting of the Central Committee, held on
1st September, it was reported that copies of the Rules
and Regulations had, along with other papers, been
issued to the Parish Committees. And with a view to
having the objects of the Association carried out effi-
ciently, the following recommendations were adopted,
viz. : —

How it was Stamped Out.

17

1. “ The appointment of a treasurer, who would also
be convener of the City Committee, and the opening of
accounts current with each of the three local banks.
These accounts to be in the name of the Association,
and to be operated on by the treasurer and secretary
after being duly authorised by the Central Committee.

2. “The election of six veterinary surgeons as in-
spectors of the county to be recommended to the Jus-
tices for appointment.

3. “ That the existence of disease in stock should be
certified by one of the county inspectors, as well as by a
parish inspector.

4. “ That a circular should be sent to parish conveners
detailing their duties as per draft submitted.

5. “ That the subscription from parties not otherwise
liable to the assessment should not be less than £1, and
that public companies should be asked to subscribe.

6. “ That proprietors, if they see fit, may restrict
their assessment to their agricultural rental only, exclud-
ing house property, shootings, and fishings.

7. “ That if an animal is killed by order of two in-
spectors, who believe it is labouring under rinderpest , the
owner ought to be remunerated, as if the disease had been
rinderpest , although a post-mortem examination showed
the fact to be otherwise ; but every inspector, on killing
the first animal, must verify the accuracy of his belief,
by post-mortem examination, before proceeding farther.

Along with these recommendations, a general instruc-
tion was agreed to be issued to parish committees in
these terms : —

“ When the owner of cattle observes them attacked

18 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in i86p.

with any disease which he does not know, or suspects to
be rinderpest, he ought at once to send for the parish In-
spector. Should the Inspector be of opinion that the
disease is rinderpest, the owner of the diseased animals
ought immediately to inform the convener of the Parish
Committee. The convener of the Parish Committee will
immediately request one of the county Inspectors
to examine the diseased animals. Should the county
Inspector concur with the parish Inspector in believing
the disease to be rinderpest, he ought to take the mea-
sures authorised by the Orders in Council, of which each
inspector ought to provide himself with a copy, and the
Parish Committee will instantly inform the secretary of
the Central Committee, and make a detailed valuation
both of the animals diseased and of others which may
have been in contact with them. Should the parish In-
spector be also a county Inspector, it is desirable that
another Inspector, either parish or county, be called in
that the disease may be certified by two Inspectors.
Inspectors ought to satisfy themselves of the nature of
the disease by post-mortem examination on the first
opportunity, and should they order any animals to be
slaughtered, a post-mortem examination ought to be made
of the animal first killed before proceeding farther.”

The following six veterinary surgeons were recom-
mended for appointment, and at once formally appointed
county inspectors by authority of Justices of the Peace : —
Messrs. John Morris (previously acting), Aberdeen ;
Robert Sorley, Alford ; Stewart, Rothiemay ; Thomas
Hay, Ellon ; M'Gilvray, Rayne ; and Dewar, Midmar.

At the meeting just referred to the City Committee
in their report, begged “to draw attention to the cure by

How it was Stamped Out.

19

chalybeate water, or water off rusty iron, recommended
by the British Consul at Warsaw, published in all the
newspapers. The cure is so simple that it would be
injudicious,” they say, “not to use it as a precautionary
measure.”

The statement of the Consul here referred to was
to the effect that on asking information from several
large landed proprietors, he had been informed that, when
cattle plague was prevalent in Poland in the yeai 18571
« no remedy answered so well as, on the first appearance
of the malady, to give the cattle water very strongly
impregnated with iron. This treatment,” it was said,

“ was first discovered from its having been observed that
upon a farm where there was a chalybeate spring, the
cattle were either but slightly affected or recovered while
drinking profusely of the chalybeate water, while on the
adjoining farms the beasts died in large numbers. It
was then found that by putting old iron into the cattle
troughs, so as to produce a highly chalybeate water,
the same result ensued, and the cattle recovered.
Experience soon taught the committee and all concerned
that “simple” cures by mineral water and the like would
be of little enough avail !

Up to this date, and even later, a controversy
prevailed, not only as to the treatment of the disease, but
even as to its origin, and the expediency of imposing any
restrictions whatever on importation and inland transit of
cattle. The theory of spontaneous origin of the disease, by
filthy and crowded housing and the like, was pertinaciously
insisted upon by not a few who scouted the idea of
interference with perfect liberty as regards the admission
of foreign stock as an infringement of the principle of
free trade. And it was in reference to the general position

20 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

of matters indicated that an eminent French veterinarian,
Professor Bouley, uttered himself in these words : — “ If
England had not been disarmed by her laws it had been
possible to have arrested its [the plague’s] march by
energetic measures like those adopted on the Continent,
where the Austrian and Prussian sentinels, always vigilant,
guard Western Europe, and protect it against the inva-
sion of this Russian scourge. But in England, as it
appears, the bovine race must perish rather than a prin-
ciple. The maxim is sublime, no doubt, but it will be
productive of great disasters.” Fortunately, the extreme
doctrinaire notions referred to found but little counte-
nance in Aberdeenshire.

By 26th August sixty-nine parishes out of 85 within
the county had reported to the Central Committee, and
agreed to the Association’s resolutions and rules, with
slight suggested alterations. And the meetings of the
Committee thenceforward were held weekly, on Fridays,
up to February, 1866.

III. — A dministration.

At the meeting of the Central Committee on 8th
September, reports were given in of cases of rinderpest
among 24 cattle in a field at Craigiebuckler, belonging
to Thomas Gordon, cattle-dealer (and which it was
believed had infected cattle in an adjacent field) ; at Gar-
mond ; at Middle Barnyards, Peterhead ; and at Strichen
Mains ; also at Westerton, Forgue, the latter being a
renewed outbreak. At Garmond it appeared that ten

How it was Stamped Out.

21

animals, several of them calves, had died by rinderpest,
and two, a cow and a calf, were slaughtered by order of
the Inspectors. Three cattle had died at Middle Barn-
yards. At Strichen Mains twelve in all had been
attacked, nine being calves ; and of the whole — nine
died, two were slaughtered, and only one (a calf) re-
covered. In this case it was reported that the cattle
were in a field together, and were not known to have
been in contact with other animals. In the case of the
cattle at Craigiebuckler, the circumstances were differ-
ent. The owner, Thomas Gordon, was a dealer, and
constantly passing animals through his hands. The two
first attacked, after being separated from the rest (some
twenty-four in all) by the Inspector’s instructions, were,
against his orders, removed by Gordon, who would give
no account of them ; and there was the further aggrava-
tion that Gordon, at the imminent risk of communicat-
ing plague to the cattle belonging to a respectable farmer
in an immediately adjoining field, had acted against
the Inspector’s instructions in removing cows into the
Craigiebuckler field. The remaining cattle there, be-
longing to him, were, after re-inspection, slaughtered and
buried “ three feet deep ” in the earth, by order of the
Executive Committee of Inspectors.

The Acting Committee and Inspectors had now got
fairly into their work ; and nothing will better indicate
the style in which that work was carried through than
a few extracts from the reports of Inspectors, and from
the resolutions adopted, with summaries of general pro-
ceedings, presented as nearly as possible in the actual
terms of the reports given in.

At the Central Committee meeting of 1 5th Septem-
ber, a report by Mr. Hay, V.S., Ellon, to the Hon. Secre-

3

22 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

tary was read, stating that on the 9th of the current
month he had visited Kirkton of St. Fergus, where he
found three calves in the last stage of rinderpest. He
adds —

“ I destroyed the three, the modus operandi being by
shooting them. I then went to Mr. Milne, Barnyards,
along with Mr. Laing, and found (in addition to the
three cows and one calf which I saw on the 7th in
various stages of the disease, and which were shot on the
8th) another cow suffering from rinde 7 pest. I shot
her, and of all Mr. Milne’s cattle that have been
in contact with the affected animals, only two remain,
and they are as yet sound.”

On 9th September, two calves had been slaughtered
at Strichen Mains, “ being the last out of two cows, one
quey, and nine calves (except one which got better), that
were in a park together,” and not known to be in con-
tact with other animals. Then from Messrs. Stewart
and Snowball, V.S., comes this report —

“ This is to certify that a cow belonging to Mrs.
Booth, Westerton, Forgue, died of rinderpest on the
morning of the 6th inst., and was buried with the skin.
To-day we found a cow and two calves ill of rinderpest,
and have caused them to be destroyed in our presence,
and buried with their skins. The above are the whole
of Mrs. Booth’s stock, and her houses will be disinfected
as soon as possible.”

Again, at the meeting of 22nd September, Messrs.
Stewart and Barron, V.S., report having ordered the

How it was Stamped Out.

23

slaughter of a cow and calf at Garmond. And Mr. Hay,
V.S., reports —

“At the request of Mr. Logan, convener of the St.
Fergus Parish Committee, I went on Saturday last to
the village of Ugie, and saw a cow belonging to Mr.
Lily, in the last stage of rinderpest. I destroyed her by
shooting her. Mr. Lily has other two cows, two calves,
and two one-year olds, which have been in contact with
the diseased cow. I next went to Mr. Hastie, Stonemill,
St. Fergus, where the convener — Mr. Logan — the in-
spector, Mr. Elrick, and Messrs. Watson and Penny,
both members of the committee, were waiting for me.
This is the first time I have met members of committee
on the ground, and I must say they appear to be men of
energy, and determined to wrestle with the foe that has
for the first time made its appearance in the parish ; for,
although the hour (6'3 <d p.m.) when I left them was rather
late, they were determined to get six fat oxen that had
been in contact with rinderpest killed and dressed that
night if possible. I found a two-year-old ox in a far
advanced stage of rinderpest , and a calf showing evident
symptoms of the disease. The ox I destroyed, and
made a post-mortem examination in presence of the
Inspector, &c., as neither of them had ever seen a case
of rinderpest , and I am perfectly satisfied of the disease
being rinderpest. Six two-year-olds and seven calves
have been in contact. I next went to Mr. Stewart,
Cairnhill, St. Fergus, and found a two-year-old quey also
in a far advanced stage of rinderpest. I ordered her to
be destroyed. She has been in contact with twenty-two
animals. This is the most inexplicable outbreak I have
met with. In fact, there is no accounting for it either

24 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

by infection or contagion, and I do not believe in its
spontaneous origin.”

A couple of days after two other cows were ordered
to be slaughtered at the same place.

The question of treatment of cattle that had exhibited
symptoms of plague was still a matter of discussion in
many quarters, and at the meeting of the Central Com-
mittee, on 29th September, in order to test the practical
view of the question in light of the experience had, the
veterinary surgeons present were invited to give their
opinions as to whether it would be advisable to attempt
treatment of any diseased animals in place of slaughter-
ing. Three of the Inspectors — Messrs. Sorley, Hay, and
Stewart, the latter by letter — declared in favour of
prompt slaughtering where disease was apparent ; while
one — Mr. Dewar — thought he should like to try treat-
ment of the animals. Following upon the opinions
expressed, the meeting promptly and unanimously
resolved —

“ That this Committee, having heard reports from
several county Inspectors as to the nature of rinder-
pest and its highly contagious character, and having
carefully deliberated on the whole question, are
unanimously of opinion and hereby direct, as the
best means of getting the disease extirpated and
of lessening the loss of all parties interested —
1. That all animals diseased, or which have been
in contact with disease, be slaughtered with the
greatest possible despatch ; that till this is done and
the premises disinfected watchers be stationed at
every centre of disease to prevent its spreading

How it was Stamped Out.

25

either by persons or animals ; and that all animals
within one mile of any centre of disease be immedi-
ately housed and kept so. 2. Any member failing
to attend to these directions shall forfeit all claim
on the funds of the Association. 3. It is remitted
to Parish Committees to see that these directions
are carefully attended to.”

Relative to this resolution, specific instructions to
Inspectors and for disinfection of premises, in accordance
with the then newly-issued Orders in Council, were
adopted. It was set forth as the duty of every Inspector
to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the Orders
in Council ; where disease was reported the Inspectors
were instructed to visit the place at once, whether sent
for or not, and to endeavour to trace out how it had
been communicated, especially in the case of new centres ;
and where the slaughter of any animal had been ordered,
they were specially instructed to make a post-mortem
examination, reporting the symptoms prior to death, and
as brought out by the post-mortem examination, to the
Honorary Secretary. In the instruction bearing on the
general treatment of affected animals, it was said —

“ The Central Committee are of opinion that the
best means to get the disease extirpated is to
slaughter all animals diseased, or which have been
in contact with disease ; but as the Orders in Council
only authorise the slaughter of diseased animals,
Inspectors cannot, without consent of their owner,
slaughter healthy animals which have been in con-
tact with disease. If the animal is in good condi-
tion, and the disease not so far advanced as to

26 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

injure the meat, it will be advisable to slaughter
and dress the animal. If fit for use, the owner
will take charge of carcase ; but the Inspector is
bound to see all the offal, blood, bedding, &c.,
properly buried, and the skin and tallow carefully
disinfected, &c. And if the animal is in an advanced
stage of disease, it only remains for the Inspector
to see it killed, and buried five feet deep, as directed
by the Orders in Council.”

As will be noted, the Committee went in advance of
the Orders in Council by expressing a distinct opinion
in favour of slaughtering animals which had “ been in
contact with disease,” as well as those actually diseased.
And, as a further measure of precaution, the Honorary-
Secretary was instructed to represent to the Magistrates
of Burghs and Justices of Peace for the County, as the
proper authorities, “ that this Committee is strongly of
opinion, and anxiously wish, that all fairs and markets
be stopped for two months, from October 1st, so far as
regards cattle and sheep ; and to request them to
exercise their powers under the new Orders in Council
to this effect.”

At the meeting of 6th October, it was reported that
£3200 of the voluntary assessment had been received ;
and in reference to the stoppage of fairs and markets, a
deputation from the Aberdeen Flesher Trade, requesting
the continuance of the King Street Market for the sale
exclusively of fat cattle, was heard. The members of
the deputation stated that their constituents were quite
agreeable to having the county markets shut up ; but
considered that it would be safe, as well as convenient
for all parties, if fat stock were allowed to be exposed in

How it was Stamped Otit.

27

King Street. The difficulty of strictly defining “fat
stock ” was pointed out, and the consequent risk of
having the market “ inundated with cattle from all
quarters,” especially from southward, dwelt upon. The
alternatives seemed to be opening the market for
animals strictly consigned for slaughter, or adopting a
suggestion made to allow markets confined to single
parishes to be held. The Honorary Secretary having
pointed out that the Order in Council gave no discretion-
ary power in the direction of the suggestion referred to,
it was agreed to allow consideration of the subject to
lie over for a month.

At this meeting the question of sales of cattle
“warranted free of all disease,” by jobbers, was brought
up by Mr. M‘Combie, Tillyfour. A “jobber,” in or
near his district, who had advertised seventy-four cattle
for sale, had, he stated, set at nought all his remon-
strances as Chairman of the Central Committee. And
as he brought his cattle from distant centres that
were in communication with Falkirk, the risk of disease
being thus imported must be great. “ In my dis-
trict,” said the speaker, “ we are surrounded with a
host of jobbers ; and even farmers, who have very little,
some of them, to lose, will go on, and are daily going
on, with their jobbing, to the risk and annoyance of
every one in the county who wishes to pay twenty
shillings in the £1. The lung disease has appeared,
if not the rinderpest , at my very threshold (within three
miles), brought in by jobbed cattle. I called yesterday,
and the owner reported to me that he had resolved to
kill every cow that he had, two or three being already
dead, and other five nearly all affected. Nothing but
the strong arm of the law will prevent these parties from

28 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

going on in their practices ; if you speak to them, they
will laugh at you in your face, and tell you you cannot
prevent them, and give you abuse to the bargain. Our
country is in the most critical position. One penny in
the £1 from landlords, and a penny from tenants,
will do little to reimburse the farmers in this country if
the disease should become general. No one can tell
where it may end. What, indeed, have tenants to
depend upon but their cattle, and the landlords can
have no rent if the cattle die.”

On the motion of Mr. M'Combie, seconded by Mr.
James Porter, land steward, Monymusk, it was agreed —

“ 1. That this Committee memorialise, through the
Lord-Lieutenant of the County, the Lords of
Her Majesty’s Privy Council, praying them to
empower Local Authorities when they shall deem
it expedient, as a measure for preventing the spread
of rinderpest, to prohibit sales of cattle by public
auction.

“ 2. That purchasers of cattle at the public roups of
cattle jobbers shall forfeit all claims on the funds
of the Association.”

A week after the date of the meeting just referred
to, the funds of the Association were reported to
be about £3400. Claims for compensation had, at
this date (13th October), been made to the extent
of about £600, and it was thought the total amount
of the claims accruing was not likely to exceed
£2000. The total number of beasts reported as
affected with the plague, and dead, or slaughtered, up
to date had been 283, of which 174 had been in the

How it was Stamped Out.

29

parishes of Peterhead, St. Fergus, and Longside. On
20th October another outbreak was reported at Mill of
Tiffery, Longside, being the second at same place, when,
by recommendation of the Parish Committee, the whole
remaining stock, consisting of five cows and four calves,
valued at about £109, were slaughtered. At the
succeeding weekly meeting, the Honorary Secretary
was able to report the “ very gratifying information ”
that no case of rinderpest had occurred since previous
meeting, and that about a month had elapsed since
a new centre had appeared. A donation of .£"50 to
the funds of the Association, from Her Majesty the
Queen, was intimated. And a legal opinion having
been received from the Crown Office to the effect
that periodical sales of cattle fell under the provisions
of the Order in Council applicable to stoppage of fairs
and markets, the Honorary Secretary was instructed
to send copies to the parties who had advertised sales.

The proceedings at the meeting of Central Com-
mittee, held on 19th November, furnish a very good
example of the thorough-going yet cautious way in
which the business of the Association was carried on.
Mr. Hay, county Inspector, reported upon a case of
rinderpest at Middle Hythie. The tenant, who had
ceased to be a member of the Association, was found
to have just killed three cattle (in addition to nine
previously killed), driving the carcases to Peterhead,
while the offal was allowed to lie about the farm,
merely covered with some straw, &c. Four had been
killed, and the carcases in process of being buried
in the farmyard dunghill ; and other six had been
driven to Peterhead for slaughter. In short, a distinct
and deliberate violation of Privy Council Orders had

30 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in i86j.

been committed. Mr. Hay, who, on stepping in as
Inspector, had destroyed five cattle additional, com-
mented severely upon the recklessness of the farmer ;
and a correspondence read to the meeting showed that
the Honorary Secretary had communicated with the
Parish Committee, pointing out that laxity had occurred
on their part in not having taken such measures as
might prevent risk of contagion ; and, in particular, that
the parish Inspector ought to have carried out the in-
structions, under Orders in Council, to slaughter all
diseased animals, and to prevent animals being removed
from the farm, &c. The meeting resolved to minute
that, in their opinion, the Parish Committee, as respons-
ible in the matter, ought to have taken action immedi-
ately on hearing the current rumour of disease among
the stock ; also that they were very much dissatisfied
with the conduct of the Inspector ; and it was resolved
to instruct Messrs. Ligertwood to take the necessary
steps to prosecute the owner of the cattle. At a subse-
quent meeting, after explanations received, it was, how-
ever, resolved, and minuted, that the Old Deer Com-
mittee, in their action in the Middle Hythie case, had
conformed to the general instructions.

The summary report of the completed case at 'the
farm mentioned was that “the disease is quite extirpated
at Middle Hythie ; 28 are dead and buried on the farm ;
12 have been slaughtered and sent to Peterhead ; 14
have been driven alive to the same place ; while four
cows have been slaughtered and sent south.”

On nth November, at their usual weekly meeting,
the Central Committee had had under consideration
resolutions (1) to petition the Privy Council to grant
Powers to Local Authorities to prohibit cattle being

How it was Stamped Out.

31

brought into the counties for which they acted fiom
any place in Great Britain or Ireland, or fiom paiticulai
districts thereof” (cattle in transit by railway excepted) ,
and to issue an Order “ prohibiting cattle being brought
from any place in Great Britain to any- place in Scotland
north of the river Dee and the county of Perth ” ; and
(2) extending the period during which cattle markets
might be prohibited by two months. A statement
accompanied the resolutions, which narrated the action
taken since the outbreak of rinderpest in the beginning
of July, showing that 283 cattle had died, or been
slaughtered, involving claims on the funds of nearly
.£2000, while .£3750 had been raised by voluntary assess-
ment to meet such claims. It then sets forth that by
the action taken the disease had been stopped the
last death of animals infected having been on 19th
October last.”

Unfortunately, however, for the county (it was added)
a farmer, reckless of the risk he incurred, brought into
the county on 1 1 th October a lot of fourteen cattle, the
Committee believed, from Falkirk. Knowing the lisk of
this proceeding, the Committee instructed an Inspector
to examine these cattle, which he did on 13th Octobei,
and again on 18th, but found them all apparently
healthy. The disease was, however, latent in the
animals, and, 'bn or before the 1st November, had
developed itself among the farmer’s whole herd. Not-
withstanding the ' Inspector’s prohibition, part of the
animals were sent across the county, and alieady the
disease has appeared most virulently at four diffeient
places in that neighbourhood.

The Committee expressed themselves as very unwill-
ing to interfere with freedom of trade, but, in justification

32 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1863.

of stringent action, desired to say “ they see that, so
long as unprincipled dealers are allowed to bring in
cattle from infected districts, their labour is completely
in vain, and that they may, for any prospect of ex-
tirpating the disease, abandon their exertions in despair.”
Hence the drift of their draft petition to the Privy
Council.

IV. The Policy of the Association Tested.

The state of alarm into which the country had been
brought during the autumn of 1865, by the prevalence
of rinderpest , led to the appointment of a Royal Com-
mission on the subject. The Commission reported soon
after J:he middle of November ; and at the meeting of
the Central Committee of the Rinderpest Association,
on the 24th of that month, their report came under
consideration, when the Plonorary Secretary submitted
a statement on the subject. The Commissioners recom-
mended (1) the suspension, “ for a limited time,” of all
movement of cattle ; or (2) certain detailed pre-
cautionary regulations, should the first, and in their
view preferable, recommendation not be approved. In
his statement, the Honorary Secretary, who throughout
founded on the experience had in dealing with rinderpest
m the county, objected to the first proposed measure
(1) as being most impracticable; and (2) even if practic-
able, that the loss and inconvenience would be as great
as fiom the disease ; and (3) that it would not have the
effect expected. On the other hand, the precautionary
measures suggested by the Commissioners were deemed

How it was Stamped Out.

33

too complicated to be workable ; the Association having
found considerable difficulty in getting even simple and
explicit instructions that had been issued attended
to by the members and officials in carrying out the
“ stamping out ” process, which had been adopted by the
Association. The facts, briefly put, were these— Rinder-
pest had broken out at four distinct centres (in each case
by calves brought from England), and cattle had been
affected on thirty-two different farms, the number that
had died or been slaughtered up to date being 367. At
three of the centres— Strichen, Forgue, and Monquhitter
—the plague had been certainly “ stamped out,” the last
animal slaughtered at any of these centres having met
its fate so long ago as 16th September. At the fourth
centre, in Peterhead parish, the disease had spread con-
siderably, and been carried into the neighbouring
parishes of Longside and St. Fergus. In all these
cases, slaughtering had been resorted to, and the plague
was stopped, although, as a shorter time had elapsed
since the process was completed than in the case of the
first three centres, it was not yet certain that the disease
had been conclusively extirpated.* The only two points
in which the Association had found its powers inade-
quate were (1) in regard to the imposition of an assess-
ment ; and (2) the prevention of cattle from coming into
the county. Had the Association possessed the latter
power in time, it was not doubted that the county would
have been earlier clear of the disease. The Honorary
Secretary submitted the following proposal foi considera-
tion, as covering all that was required in the existing
circumstances : —

“ An Act of Parliament authorising the formation of

* After experience proved that it had not.

Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

County Boards, consisting, in Scotland, of the Com-
missioners of Supply and tenants elected by each parish,
the jurisdiction of this Board to extend over the whole
county, royal burghs alone excepted. This Board to be
invested with the following powers : — 1. Those possessed
by Local Authorities under the Order in Council of
22nd September. 2. To prohibit any cattle from being
brought into the county ; if advisable to admit cattle
fiom certain districts only, retaining the general pro-
hibition applicable to all other places not thus specially
excepted ; but not to prevent the transit of cattle by
railway through the county, under proper precautions.
3. To impose an assessment on the agricultural rental of
the county not exceeding in any one year per pound :
one half to be paid by proprietors and the other by
tenants, this fund to be employed in indemnifying
sufferers, paying inspectors, officials, &c. The adoption
of the Act by counties to be optional, and to be de-
tei mined by a public meeting of the county, convened
by the Lord-Lieutenant on a suitable requisition, or
when the cattle plague breaks out.”

The Order of 22nd September here referred to
authorised every Inspector within his district, inter alia ,
“to seize and slaughter, or cause to be seized and
slaughtered,” and to be buried five feet deep, “ any
animal labouring under” cattle plague; and to direct
animals that he suspects to be labouring under the said
disease to be kept separate from animals free from it.
And it empowered Local Authorities, on due notice
given, to exclude animals (cattle, sheep, goats, or swine)
from any specified market or fair within their juris-
diction, for a time to be specified in published notice.

How it was Stamped Out.

35

The resolution of the meeting was to refer considera-
tion of the whole matter to a meeting of landed
proprietors, occupiers, and others, to be called by the
Lord-Lieutenant. And on 1st December, accordingly,
a meeting so constituted was held, at which, after con-
siderable discussion, the following resolutions were
adopted : — ■

“ That this meeting, in expressing a general approval
of the report of the Royal Commission appointed
to enquire into the origin and nature of the cattle
plague, is of opinion- —

“ i. That, to suspend, even for a limited time, the
movement of cattle from one place to another in
Great Britain would, were it practicable, be highly
inexpedient, and likely to be attended with serious
consequences, not only to those more immediately
interested in the cattle trade, but to the public in
general.

“ 2. That the suspension of fairs and markets, and
public sales, and exhibitions of cattle, ought,
under existing circumstances, to be continued for
a further period.

“ 3. That, with a due regard to the interests of the
community at large, no unnecessary impediments
should be put in the way of fat or stock cattle
being imported, but that all such cattle should be
landed only at certain specified ports, and retained
in quarantine until slaughtered, and that no lean or
store cattle ought to be admitted into Great Britain
from any place beyond seas under existing circum-
stances.

“4. That the Orders in Council issued from time to

3G Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

time, investing Local Authorities with certain
discretionary powers, have been only partially suc-
cessful in arresting the progress of the plague, owing
to the want of uniform action in counties and
districts, and also to the difficulty of enforcing rules
and regulations on officials and interested parties.
Inspectors ought to have the power to prevent
any cattle whatever from being removed alive from
any infected farm ; and that during tire time of
disease, and for twenty-one days after the last case ;
also from suspected farms ; but in this case the
prohibition not to exceed ten days, provided disease
does not break out. Further, that powers ought to
be granted to cause all dogs to be chained, or kept
under immediate control.

“ 5. That experience having proved in this — one of
the largest and most important agricultural and
cattle-breeding counties of Scotland— that the most
efficient mode of dealing with such a matter is by
a system of local organisation and local control,
this meeting would regard with satisfaction an Act
of Parliament authorising the formation in counties
of a Central County Committee, to be composed
of landowners and tenant-farmers, with power to
raise a compensation fund ; to proscribe neighbour-
ing and other counties known to be infected with
the plague, and refuse to admit their cattle ; to pro-
claim in the local newspapers infected districts ; and
to adopt, in regard to those districts, as well as in
the county generally, such measures of active inter-
ference and precaution as may appear calculated to
meet any emergency that may arise.

“ 6. That a copy of the resolutions passed at this meeting

How it was Stamped Oiit.

37

be transmitted by the noble Chairman to the
Home Secretary, and to the Clerk of the Privy
Council, and the Secretary of the Royal Com-
mission.”

At the ordinary meeting of the Central Committee
on 8th December, it was unanimously agreed to have
the statement of the Honorary Secretary, to which we
have referred, embracing, as it did, a “ succinct record of
the measures adopted in this county for putting down
the cattle plague,” printed and circulated.*

This resolution was come to after full discussion
and consideration at two meetings, a few influential
members at first inclining to approval of the recom-
mendation of the Royal Commissioners to suspend all
movement of cattle. But latterly the statement and
suggestions of the Honorary Secretary, whose executive
ability and mastery of the whole elements of the case
were strongly spoken to, commanded general assent in
the Committee and out of it.

In course of the discussion, reference was made to
the destructive progress of the disease in the neighbour-
ing counties to the southward where no effective steps
had been taken. In Forfarshire, in particular, it was
stated that no fewer than 331 beasts had died in a single
week. It was believed that the circulation of the
statement, and its being put into the hands of the
Lords-Lieutenant and Conveners of all the counties of
Scotland, as well as its being submitted to the Privy
Council and the Royal Commissioners, would be of great
service, as a means of maturing opinion and leading to
useful action. The Privy Council had already, it was

* This statement is fully quoted from further on.

4

38 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

stated, given considerable weight to the opinions and
practice of the County of Aberdeen in the matter ; it
being known on good authority, that several of their
Minutes and Orders had been based pretty much on
recommendations sent up from the Association ; and no
doubt was entertained that due consideration would be
given to the views of the Honorary Secretary in any
measures that might be framed.

At this point of time the question of “ treatment ” of
animals labouring under rinderpest again came up in an
incidental way. Certain papers had been received by
the Convener of the County from Dr. Lyon Playfair,
who, it was reported, wished “to get the treatment
recommended by the Edinburgh Commission tried
under intelligent direction in Aberdeenshire.” This
application was disposed of literally in a parenthesis,
and in these terms : — “ Treatment of cattle being
contrary to the policy adopted by this Association, and,
happily, no case of disease to treat, the Secretary was
instructed to reply to the Convener’s note to this effect.”

At the meeting of the Central Committee on 15 th
December, two outbreaks of plague were reported, one ,
at Stranduff, Kincardine O’Neil, the other at Newton of
Auchinclech, parish of Skene. In both cases, contagion
had been brought by cattle, bought from a dealer, and
which had entered the county from Kincardineshire,
across the Cairn -’na-Month. In one of the cases, seven
cattle out of a stock of twenty-four had died, and the
rest were slaughtered ; in the other, two out of nine had
died, and the rest were slaughtered. Action had been
promptly taken in each case by the Conveners of the
Parish Committees in which the outbreaks had occurred,
along with the Honorary Secretary. It was also reported

How it was Stamped Out.

39

that, after an interval of twenty days, a fresh outbreak,
believed to have originated from insufficiently-buried
offal, had occurred at Hythie, Old Deer ; three cattle
affected had been slaughtered, and stringent instructions
given to the several Parish Committees that all manure
and offal heaps should be covered at least a foot deep
with earth. The Honorary Secretary further reported that,
to meet the danger on the southern boundary, watchers
had been stationed along the border line of the county, at
all necessary points, to prevent ingress of cattle, and at
the various centres of disease, to see that proper precau-
tions were attended to. At the immediately succeeding
meeting, it was agreed, after discussion, that “ double
watchers ” should be stationed on all the roads leading
into Aberdeenshire from the south, no danger being
apprehended on the other sides of the county.

At the meeting of 15th December, in view of the
fresh outbreaks reported and dealt with, Mr. Barclay,
as Honorary Secretary, was fully empowered to “ pur-
chase or order the slaughter of” diseased animals, or
animals that had been in contact with disease, belonging
to non-members of the Association, as he might find
advisable, he being relieved of all responsibility on
thereafter reporting his proceedings to the Committee.

The question of additional powers to Local
Authorities had been under the consideration of a Sub-
Committee, who, on 22nd December, reported to the
Central Committee their having laid the following
resolutions before a meeting of Justices of the Peace,
by whom they had been approved : —

“ That the Lords of Her Majesty’s Privy Council be
'solicited : —

40 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

“ 1. To prohibit all fairs and markets within the United
Kingdom.

“ 2. To grant powers to Inspectors to kill diseased
cattle under warrant of two Justices of the Peace.
“3. To grant powers to Local Authorities to prohibit
raw hides, straw, or fodder from being brought into
their county.

“4. To order that all foreign cattle be slaughtered at the
port of debarkation.

“ 5. To issue some stringent orders against allowing
dogs to stray through the country.

“6. To prohibit all movement of animals within an area
of one mile from any diseased animal or farmstead
during the existence of disease, and for six weeks
after the last case ; and to grant power to any
Inspector to prohibit for ten days the removal of
any animal from any farm where he suspects
disease to exist.

“ 7. Further, to provide that no animals be moved from
any part of the county to another, without a
certificate of health from a special Inspector, and a
licence from a local magistrate.”

After considerable discussion, turning mainly on
paragraph 7, these resolutions were carried in the Central
Committee, though only by a small majority. The 7th
resolution was admittedly in the nature of a compromise,
going so far in the direction of the recommendation of
the Royal Commission stopping all movement of cattle ;
and it had been practically adopted by some other
counties. To this it was replied by the Honorary
Secretary, who, along with others, opposed the re-
solution, that it would create a great deal of incon-

How it was Stamped Out.

41

venience and trouble to many parties without yielding
corresponding benefit. As to what had been done in
counties in the southern portion of the Kingdom that
ought not to carry much weight, inasmuch as, when the
County of Aberdeen met originally and resolved to act,
these counties met and resolved to do nothing. The
County of Aberdeen had, the Honoraiy Secretary held,
carried the day by the course it had taken, and he failed
to see how the people in the south should be right now
any more than when they previously proved themselves
to be wrong.

Such, generally, was the position in which matters
stood at the close of the year. A new Privy Council
Order had been issued on 16th December, which seemed
to give Local Authorities almost absolute control over
the movement of cattle within their jurisdiction. What
the Central Committee, which never conceded the
principle of absolute prohibition of the movement of
cattle, did, was to agree to continue to watch the
southern boundary of the county closely, and to look
after centres of disease, leaving it to individual districts
that might desire more stringent regulations to apply
to the Local Authorities on their own account. A
Notice on the subject was soon thereafter issued by the
Justices of Peace for the County of Aberdeen in virtue
of the powers contained in the Order of 14th December,
and in a subsequent Order dated 20th January, 1866.
It was in these terms : —

“First — That it shall not be lawful to remove any
animal, as defined in said Orders, from any house,
courtyard, or place within the distance of one mile
from any animal attacked with Cattle Plague, or to

42 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

bring any animal as so defined to any place within
one mile of any animal so attacked ; and that from
the day any such animal is attacked to the first day
of March next, provided always that nothing
contained in this Notice or Declaration shall make
it unlawful to remove sheep from within the
distance of one mile from any animal so attacked
during the three days immediately following the
first attack of any such animal with Cattle Plague,
with the licence of an Inspector and the Convener
of the Parish Committee of the Aberdeen Rinder-
pest Association acting for the parish in which said
sheep may be at the time.

“ Second — That it shall not be lawful to remove any
hide, skin, horn, hoof, offal, dung, hay, straw, fodder,
or litter from the district within a mile of any
animal attacked with Cattle Plague, to any other
place beyond said district, and that for the period
from the day any animal is so attacked to the first
day of March next.”

The penalty for breach of Order was £20.

A statement of the claims on the Association, sub-
mitted to a general meeting through the Finance
Committee on 12th January, 1866, showed that the
income up to that date from voluntary assessment and
donations amounted to £4133 7s. 6d. ; and the liabilities,
including £17$ is. 8d. of expenditure in working
charges, amounted to £2^71 16s. iod. From the

particulars of claims it appeared that 68 cattle had died,
of the value of ^745 5s. ; in cattle had been killed and
buried, of the value of ,£1213 ns. ; 205 had been killed
and the carcases sold, of the value of £3391 13s. The

Hoiv it was Stamped Out.

43

proceeds of sales had amounted to £2237 2s. iod. ; and
the absolute loss to £1134 10s. 8d. About £500 of this
loss was on cattle that had died before the “ stamping
out” principle was adopted, and it included payment of
full value of first cattle slaughtered at Forgue on the
outbreak of the plague* The total loss amounted to
£3006 6s. 8d. The total claim on the funds at the rate of
two-thirds of value of cattle allowed to die, and three-
fourths of value of those slaughtered, was £2296 15s. 2d.
At date of the accounts, 5th January, the total claim
of each parish in which disease had broken out stood
thus : —

Strichen ...

Forgue ...
Monquhitter
Peterhead
St. Fergus
Longside
Lonmay ...

Old Deer
Kincardine O’Neil

£2 76 6 7
314 o 10
104 17 6

35° 7 o
306 9 6

48S 3 o

243 13 S

63 7 4

64 10 o

£22g 6 15 2

In their report to the general meeting the Central
Committee recommended that immediate payment should
be made of the claims of those who had suffered by
slaughtering ; and this was accordingly done.

*When plague broke out at Westerton the farmers in the locality
undertook to bear the loss incurred by slaughtering Mr. Ogg’s cattle, the
Association not being then formed. And to relieve them it was agreed to
pay the full amount, £282 15s.

44 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

V. — Concluding Period.

The general meeting of the Aberdeenshire Rinder-
pest Association was held on 12th January, 1866, to
receive report and statement of accounts, of which a
summary has been already given. The report stated that
rinderpest had been brought into the County of Aberdeen
by cattle on seven different occasions, and had prevailed,
more or less, for six months. The measures adopted in
each case to cope with the disease appeared to have
been successful. The last case of slaughtering had
occurred on 26th December, and there had been no case
of disease in the county since. Every parish in the
county had joined the Association, and the voluntary
assessment had been remarkably well paid, the deficiency
not exceeding, probably, 15 to 20 per cent. This, it
was stated, was, in a great degree, due to the exertions
of the Parish Committees, who had zealously attended
to their duties. Although the disease seemed for the
present subdued, the Central Committee were fully per-
suaded that it would be unwise to relax, in the slightest,
their vigilance in preventing it from being again brought
in. They, therefore, recommended the members to
prepare, as far as they possibly could, for a lengthened
exclusion of cattle from the south. As soon as
they believed it safe, the Committee would recommend
the Justices of Peace to modify or altogether
rescind the existing Notice prohibiting cattle being
brought in from the southern counties. They considered
that the greatest danger now to be apprehended was the
gradual spread of the disease northward, from centres

How it was Stamped Out.

45

where it had a strong hold in the adjacent counties
southward, to the south bank of the Dee ; and, should
that unfortunately take place, the utmost care and
caution would be necessary on the part of those having
stock on the north bank of that river. To make the
boundary more definite, it was agreed by the Central
Committee, on 12th January, that the parish of Banchory-
Ternan be, admitted into the Association.

The absence of any effective action in the counties
immediately southward of Aberdeen has been already
hinted at. It is not our purpose here to refer in any
comprehensive way to the state of matters in Kincardine-
shire and Forfarshire. Some general reference thereto
seems, however, necessary in the way of contrast ; and as
showing how serious a cause of anxiety the state of
matters in these counties continued to be to those who,
while fully alive to the contagious character of the
disease, were convinced that it could not be successfully
treated ; who held that there was no effectual remedy but
that of “stamping out” by slaughtering diseased animals
and such as had been in contact with them, all reason-
able freedom being, on the other hand, conceded where
due precautions had been taken to guard against the
introduction of the plague.

In a report by the Honorary Secretary on the later
outbreaks of the disease in Aberdeenshire and their
origin, dated 14th February, 1866 (four fresh cases
having occurred between 24th January and 9th
February), it was stated that “ since the 1st of January
about sixty farms in the parish of Fettercairn and
immediate neighbourhood have been attacked by the
disease, and, as the farmers have attempted to cure,
that district necessarily became a hot-bed of rinderpest .’

46 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in i86p.

The endeavour, it may be stated, had been to find out
whether these fresh outbreaks (with an intermediate one
that had occurred in the parish of Strachan) were due to
atmospheric agency — i.e., the wind carrying infection
from Fettercairn, in a north-easterly direction. Again,
in a letter dated Ellon, March i, 1866, on “ the alleged
cures of rinderpest in Kincardineshire,” Mr. Thomas
Hay, V.S., one of the most skilled and courageous of the
Aberdeenshire County Inspectors, reported having,
along with Mr. James Thomson, V.S., Aberdeen, at the
request of the Honorary Secretary, visited a number of
farms in Laurencekirk and Fordoun districts, where the
disease was said to prevail. The Fordoun Inspector,
who, according to Mr. Hay, was believed to be able to
detect rinderpest “ fourteen or twenty days before such
an observer as himself could discover any symptoms
of the disease, accompanied the two Aberdeenshire
Inspectors in their visit to several herds said to be
labouring under rinderpest, but where the visitors, on
examination, failed to see the least symptom of the
plague ! This Inspector had, moreover, it was caustically
added, discovered an unfailing specific for rinderpest in
the shape of cooked food, such as “ boiled turnips and
bran,” as also “ oatmeal gruel, salt being mixed in
everything they were offered,” and the supply kept
short. It was found as they proceeded that while
serious cases of plague had occurred, no care had
apparently been taken to prevent the spread of the
disease. At several farms, animals were found in the
last stage of rinderpest, and a good many had died or
been killed. In a few instances the complaint was found
to be only foot-and-mouth disease, and at one reputed
centre of plague, where there was a fine stock of cattle,

Hoiv it was Stamped Out.

47

Mr. Hay’s report was that there is nothing apparently
the matter with them but hunger, good indications of
which they gave, by continuous lowing. Like all the
rest, they are not allowed anything but a short supply
of cooked food.” The general conclusion was that the
delusion — as delusion it certainly was, if allowed to go
on — as to fancied cases of rinderpest , and its fancied
cure, must be very serious, while “ the recklessness of
going from places where disease actually exists to
places where it exists only in imagination, must be
ruinous.” Up to this date ioi cattle were reported to
have died in Kincardineshire, and only 28 been killed.
Thus far of Kincardineshire. The contrast between
the course of procedure there, as graphically described in
the letter quoted from, and the competent and fearless
action so promptly adopted in Aberdeenshire to master
the terrible scourge, is certainly sufficiently marked.

In Forfarshire (in parts of which plague was there-
after reported to have broken out afresh, with much
violence, so late as the month of May) the loss was very
heavy. The Local Authority, which sat with closed
doors, had, from the outset, shown no disposition to carry
out the provisions of the Act ; or if so, there had been no
unity of action in devising or carrying out practical
measures. And thus the state of matters there too
formed a source of continued anxiety. Nor was the action
taken in the county of Perth much more satisfactory,
the number of cattle that had died of plague having-
been 108 up to the close of March, and the number
killed only 8. At a general meeting of the Association,
on 13 th April, the laxity of the Local Authorities in the
two counties first named, as well as elsewhere, in failing
to carry out the existing law by slaughtering diseased

48 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

animals, was somewhat severely commented upon ; and,
at the meeting of the Central Committee, held directly
after, it was resolved that this Association memorialise
the Government to put the killing clauses of the Act
everywhere in force ; and that the slaughter of diseased
animals should be continued until the disease was
exterminated. At the succeeding meeting, on 20th
April, it was reported that the Home Secretary, Sir
George Grey, had been communicated with in terms of
this resolution, the appointment of a Commissioner to
see that the Act was properly carried out being
suggested. By returns for the week ending 7th April,
disease was reported to exist only in nine counties in
Scotland ; and, excepting in Forfarshire and Kincardine-
shire, no animal had been allowed to die. In the former,
out of 58 attacked, 28 had been allowed to die; in
Kincardineshire only one had been allowed to die,
giving evidence that the Act was now being more
rigorously enforced in that county.

In Aberdeenshire it was reported that there was no
disease whatever in the county at this date, the last
animal affected having been slaughtered on 3rd April.
There being no disease and no prospect of business, the
Central Committee now agreed to adjourn for a fort-
night, thus bringing their weekly meetings, which had
been continued for more than seven months, to a close.
There was no further outbreak of disease, and con-
sequently no renewed necessity for resuming the stated
meetings.

Of other steps taken by the Central Committee with
a view to secure general action on the same lines as had
been followed by the Association it is hardly necessary
to speak. But in drawing our observations on this

Hoiv it was Stamped Out.

49

period of the Association’s experience to a close, it may-
be worth while to cite the terms of, practically, the last
regular report of the state of disease in the county, given
in by the Honorary Secretary at the meeting of the
Central Committee held on 2nd March, which brings
out distinctly that the Association had seen no cause to
doubt the soundness of the principles on which it had
acted throughout. After stating that no new cases had
been reported for the week, it went on : —

“ In several of the later cases we have endeavoured
to restrict the slaughtering as much as possible, to avoid
what might be called indiscriminate slaughter, with the
view of saving, if possible, part of a stock, but, I regret
to say, the results are disappointing. At Banchory,
Mindurno, Oldfold, and Hill of Fiddes, the cattle in
separate byres were not slaughtered till disease appeared
amongst them, but of the whole only four young cattle
at Oldfold remain. These we may now begin to hope
will escape.

“ From our late experience, therefore, we may con-
clude that if an animal is allowed to die of rinderpest,
there is very little hope of being able to save any
animal about that farmstead.

“I therefore urge upon farmers the necessity of
exercising the utmost vigilance in detecting the first
symptoms of disease, and these are very characteristic.
The animal attacked first refuses turnips, but continues
to eat straw for a day, or perhaps two days. This
arises probably from the soreness of the gums in the
front part of the mouth, which makes it painful to eat
turnips, although straw may be chewed when it has got
into the back part of the jaws. When the least suspicion
is awakened, let the animal be separated, and a com-

50 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

petent Veterinary Surgeon at once called in. The sacri-
fice of only one animal may save the whole of the herd.”*
The total expenditure incurred by the Association for
the three months to 31st March was ^1136 13s. id.
The additional claims on the funds by sufferers from
rinderpest amounted to £829 17s. id., and, of the balance,
the item of watching during two months amounted to
no less than £214 10s. id. Three cattle had died of the
value of ^29 15s. ; 51 had been killed and buried, of the
value of £530 10s. ; and 89 had been killed and sold,
of the value of .£1491 4s., the proceeds from sales of
carcases of the latter being £860 os. 7d., which left a
loss of £631 3s. Sd., and the gross loss amounted to
^1042 1 8s. iod. The total claims for each of the
parishes in which disease had occurred during the three
months was as follows : —

Skene

Old Deer

Banchory-Ternan

Oldmachar

Peterculter

Foveran ...

Longside

£21 19 s
141 4 8

79 1 9 5
193 1 7 o
120 iff 10
250 o o
1 9 1 7 9

£829 17 1

At this date the Association had still a free balance
on hand, after meeting all charges, of £703 6s. 47} cl.

With the exception of a single animal killed by order
of the Inspectors, no fresh claim thereafter came on the
funds of the Association. Claims of considerable
* Appendix B.

How it was Stamped Out.

51

amount had been put forward by two members of the
Association at Middle Hythie, Old Deer, and Berryhill,
Peterhead, respectively ; but in each case the claim was
found to have been forfeited by the claimants having
brought cattle into the county contrary to rule IX., and
payment had been resisted accordingly. In their report
to the general meeting, held on 20th J uly, 1 866, however,
the Central Committee stated, inter alia, that they had
resolved “ that, whilst the disease existed in the county,
it was absolutely necessary to rigidly enforce the articles
of Association ; but now that the county has been for
three months happily free of disease, the Committee are
disposed to act leniently toward both of these sufferers,
whose losses have been very considerable ; ” and they
proposed — the proposal having been carried by a
majority in the Committee — to make an allowance of
;£ioo to each of them. This was accordingly done ; and
though the question of a renewed assessment for the
succeeding year had been under discussion at a previous
meeting, it fortunately did not become necessary to
make any fresh levy, the final statement, submitted to a
meeting of the Rinderpest Association, on 19th October,
1866, showing a free balance in favour of the Association
of £428 3s. 5id.

VI. — General Summary.

Reference has already been made to the statement
drawn up by the Honorary Secretary of the Rinderpest
Association, and laid before the meeting of the Central
Committee, for whom it had been prepared, on 15th
December, 1865. This statement, in accordance with

52 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

the wish of the Central Committee, was, with relative
resolutions, transmitted “ to the Privy Council, Royal
Commission on Cattle Plague, and others interested
throughout the country.” It was also in its completed
form submitted to the General Meeting of the Associa-
tion held on 12th January, 1866, as a “ Report on the
Origin and Progress of Cattle Plague in Aberdeenshire,
the proceedings of the Association, and the measures
best adapted to extirpate Cattle Plague.” That the
report was of very great practical interest and value,
was generally admitted. And one marked illustration
of the attention excited by the proceedings of the
Association, as- therein recorded, was furnished by a
communication, received from the then Chancellor of
the Exchequer, Mr. Gladstone, by Mr. M'Combie,
Tillyfour, as chairman of the Central Committee, and
laid before the meeting of that committee, on 19th
January. It was dated, “ Westmacott Terrace, London,
January 12th, 1866,” and ran as follows : —

“ The Chancellor of the Exchequer presents his com-
pliments to Mr. W. M'Combie, and begs of him the
favour of one or more copies of the valuable paper (a
folio sheet), sent to the Home Office ten or more days
ago, and signed by Mr. M‘Combie.

“ This paper has only been seen by him to-day ; he
first heard of the proceedings in Aberdeenshire, so
honourable to the intelligence and forethought of that
county, through an Aberdeenshire man named Storer,
lately appointed Inspector in Chester.

“ Would Mr. M'Combie be so kind as to have copies of
the papers sent to Robertson Gladstone, Esq., Liverpool,
and to Gregory Burnett, Esq., Dee Cottage, Flint. If

How it was Stamped Out.

53

this statement has been printed in any public journals
to which reference can be given, a reference to those
periodicals would stand in lieu of the foregoing
request.

“The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s apology for
taking this liberty, will, he hopes, be found in his great
desire to render the Aberdeenshire proceedings exten-
sively known.”

The Paper, prepared by the Honorary Secretary, in
its narrative part, gives an outline of the general
proceedings of the Association, at once so concise and
comprehensive, that, even at the risk of a little repetition,
we make full quotations : — ■

“ Organisation . — A public meeting of the county was
held on 18th August last, at which the Lord-Lieutenant
presided, when it was resolved to form this Association,
with a Central Committee, supplemented by Parish
Committees, to conduct its business. Funds were pro-
vided by a voluntary assessment of one penny per
pound on the agricultural rental of proprietors and the
same on tenants. The whole of the eighty-four parishes
in the county joined the Association, and the assessment
has yielded £4000, which is about four-fifths of the
maximum realisable. Sufferers by disease are indemni-
fied to the extent of two-thirds of their loss when the
diseased animals are allowed to die, and three-fourths
when slaughtered.

“ Procedure . — The Central Committee, after a brief
experience of the disease, came to the conclusion that
“slaughtering out” was the wisest policy, and issued
general instructions to the Parish Committees to the

54 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

following effect : — ‘ If disease was discovered in its
earliest stages, before secretions at the eyes had taken
place, only the animal affected to be slaughtered, the
remainder of the herd being narrowly watched, and if
disease again appeared, the whole animals in contact to
be slaughtered. If the disease was not discovered till
fully developed, then the whole animals in contact to be
slaughtered at once.’ These instructions are carried out
by the Parish Committees, which meet as soon as a case
of disease is reported, value the whole stock on the farm,
confer with the Inspector, and then resolve what ought
to be done in the special circumstances of each case.
A copy of their resolution is submitted to the owner of
the diseased animals, and if he fail to comply with the
recommendation of the Committee, he forfeits all claim
on the funds.

“ The recommendations of the Parish Committees
have in all cases been willingly agreed to by the
members of the Association.

“ The Parish Committees are also charged with the
duty of seeing that the animals, &c., are properly buried,
the byres disinfected, and all precautions used. It will
easily be understood how much their own interest
stimulates their zeal in attending to these matters.

“ Progress of the Disease . — The disease had up to 10th
January been brought into the county at various times
to seven different places, which I shall call centres of
disease.

“The First case of disease appeared at Bogenjohn,
parish of Strichen, having been brought by a calf from
London, received about 20th June. The first animal
died on 1st July, and twenty-one died at intervals up to
4th August, when the farmer sent off for slaughter the.

How it was Stamped Out.

55

remainder of his herd (twenty animals) which had been
in contact with disease. Part of his stock kept on a
distant part of his farm was reserved, and has not been
attacked. From this farm the disease spread to Strichen
Mains, about a mile distant. Here the first animal died
on nth August. Nine died at intervals up to 9th
September, when the remainder (excepting three calves
which had recovered) were slaughtered, and the plague
was arrested.

“ The Second centre of disease was at Mr. Ogg’s,
Westerton, parish of Forgue, to which the disease was
brought by a calf from London, received on 18th July.
Here the first animal died on 25th July, other 18 died
up to 17th August, when the rest were slaughtered.
After an interval of twenty days, the disease broke out
at an adjoining farm (Mrs. Booth’s), but the animals
were immediately slaughtered (8th September), and
there has been no case of disease in that district since.

“ The Third centre of disease was at Garmond, parish
of Monquhitter, brought by a calf from London, received
on 1 8th July. The first animal died on 1st August.
The disease spread to other three small crofts ; but as
soon as it was ascertained to be rinderpest, all the cattle
which had been in contact were destroyed on 16th
September, and there has been no case since.

“ The Fourth centre of disease was at Berryhill, parish
of Peterhead, brought to this place also by a calf from
London, received about 18th July. In this case the
disease had spread considerably before proper measures
were adopted, and was carried by cattle which had been
grazing in adjacent fields to the parishes of Longside
and St. Fergus. In Peterhead the disease appeared
among six different herds, but was put down by

56 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

slaughtering on 28th September, since which time there
has been no disease in that parish. In St. Fergus the
first animal died on 16th September, and eight different
herds were attacked, but the disease was exterminated
by slaughtering, and there has been no case since 7th
October. In Longside the disease first appeared about
25th September, and two herds were attacked. The
disease was put down for the time on 19th October.
After an interval of twenty-five days, a new outbreak
occurred on 13th November, supposed to proceed from
the fifth centre (to be afterwards mentioned). In the
second outbreak, three herds were attacked, and the
disease was put down on 28th November, since which
time there has been no case in that parish.

“ The Fifth centre was at Middle Hythie, situated in a
part of the parish of Old Deer, which runs into the
parishes of Longside and Lonmay. To this farm the
Plague was brought by a lot of cattle from the south of
Scotland. The cattle arrived on nth October, and were
inspected on 15th and 1 8th, when they appeared healthy.
The disease, however, broke out with great virulence a
few days after. The owner having forfeited his claim
on the funds of this Association, by bringing cattle into
the County contrary to its rules, kept the disease secret,
and it was not discovered by the Parish Committee till
eight or nine had died. Part of the herd was driven off
to Peterhead alive and sold ; but the authorities inter-
fering, the rest, with the exception of a few which had
been at a distance from the others, were slaughtered.
From Middle Hythie the disease spread into the parish
of Lonmay, where three different stocks were affected
during the week from 9th to 13th November ; but the
cattle being promptly slaughtered, the disease was put

How it was Stamped Out.

57

down for the time in that parish. The disease next
appeared at Nether Hythie, where a cow standing in a
byre with several others was observed to be ill, and was
slaughtered on 24th November. This appeared to have
stopped the disease, and there was no other case in that
district for twenty days, when it again broke out
simultaneously at three different farms within 500 yards
of Middle Hythie, the original centre, and at a fourth
farm distant about a mile. A cow at Nether Hythie,
standing in the byre behind where the one previously
slaughtered stood, was observed to be unwell on 13 th
December, and at each of two other farms within a
day or two of the same time. Immediate action was
taken, and the animals slaughtered as quickly as
advisable, the last being killed on the 26th December.
There has been no disease in the county since that date.
The last outbreak at a new farm was, as has been stated,
about 15th December.

“ The Sixth centre of disease was at Stranduff, parish
of Kincardine O’Neil (about forty miles from any of the
previous cases). The disease was brought there, on 27th
November, by three beasts, which had formed part of a
lot brought over the hills from Forfarshire six days
previously. The first animal died on 29th November,
and the second on 7th December ; not till then
did the owner suspect the disease to be rinderpest.
Several animals died on the 9th, and the rest of the
herd (in all twenty-four) were killed on nth December.

“ The Seventh centre of disease was at Auchinclech,
parish of Skene, brought there by nine beasts belonging
to the same dealer who sold the three to Stranduff.
These animals were taken to Auchinclech on 5th Decem-
ber, first showed symptoms of disease on 10th, two died

58 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

on the 13th, and the remaining seven were slaughtered
the same day. Two cows which were for two or three
days after the arrival of the diseased beasts in an
adjoining byre, but which were removed a distance of
200 or 300 yards, before disease was apparent, showed
symptoms on 18th December, and were immediately
slaughtered. The disease has not spread from the sixth
or seventh centres, which is rather remarkable, for both
lots of cattle were driven several miles through the county,
and the animal which died at Stranduff two days after
arrival must have been travelled in an advanced stage
of the disease.”

At date of the statement the disease had been put
down at the first four centres, and the places to which it
had spread from these. At the fifth centre there had
been no outbreak from 15th December, and at the sixth
and seventh centres the disease had been put down im-
mediately on discovery. In the subsequent report by
the Central Committee, submitted to a public meeting
of the Association, on 13th April, the following further
statement was made, which may here be given to com-
plete the record : —

“ The county continued free of Cattle Plague till
19th January, on which day the disease broke out simul-
taneously at New Banchory and Pitmillan. On 23rd
January it appeared at Mindurno ; on 1st February at
Oldfold; on 9th February at Millbrex ; on nth
February at Hill of Fiddes ; and on 24th February at
Millhill. These are all the herds which have been at-
tacked during the last three months. With the excep-
tion of the last (Millhill), all the farms are several miles

How it was Stamped Out.

59

apart from each other, and from any farm where disease
has existed, the shortest distance being three miles. In
the case of Millhill, there is reason to believe that infec-
tion was in some way communicated from Millbrex —
distant about one mile.

“ In all previous instances where disease appeared in
this county at a new centre, it was clearly proved that
it had been introduced by cattle which were themselves
the first victims of the Plague, but as regards the pre-
ceding six first-named cases, it is as clearly established
that the disease was not brought to any of the farms by
cattle. Neither did particular inquiry elicit any fact
warranting suspicion that the disease had been com-
municated by contact with individuals or articles which
might have conveyed infection.

“ Referring to the atmospheric phenomena of the
period in question, observations recorded at Aberdeen
show that on 14th, 18th, 28th January, and 14th

February, hurricanes of wind from S.W., without any
rain, swept over Aberdeenshire ; and it is to be noted
that in four of the cases disease became manifest on the
fifth day after a hurricane, in one case on the fourth day,
and in one case on the seventh day. Since the 4th
February there has been only one gale of wind from
S.W., and it was accompanied by rain or sleet.

« Further, the six farms lie between north and north-
east from the parish of Fettercairn in Kincardineshire,
where disease was very prevalent at that time. New
Banchory, the nearest of the farms to Fettercairn, is
distant from it about 15 miles on the map ; and Millbrex,
the most distant, about 40 miles.

“ If the inference apparently deducible from these
facts be correct, it is evident that the proceedings in

60 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

reference to Cattle Plague, adopted in neighbouring
counties, are of very great importance to us, and in con-
sequence the Central Committee has at various times
urged on the Government the necessity of taking mea-
sures to provide for the due and efficient discharge of
their duties by Local Authorities under the ‘ Cattle
Diseases Prevention Act, 1866.’

“ As soon as disease was discovered at the various
places, the animals affected, and, in some instances,
all in contact, were immediately slaughtered ; and our
action has been attended with the best results, for the
disease has not spread, so far as discovered, from any
of the centres, except in the case of Millhill, already
alluded to.

“At Millhill, 19 animals have been slaughtered on
account of the disease, and 44 still remain unaffected.
The last case occurred on 3rd inst., when one animal was
found to be affected after an interval of fourteen days,
during which no disease had been visible about the farm.
It is hoped the remaining forty-four animals will escape
being attacked.”

The hope here expressed was fulfilled ; the “ plague,”
as already stated, having been finally “stayed” by the
last case of slaughter recorded in the immediately pre-
ceding paragraph.

In the subsequent portion of the report by the Honor-
ary Secretary, the following cases were noted in detail
as particularly interesting and instructive : —

“ Case 1. — The disease in the parish of Strichen where
only two herds were attacked, was communicated
from Mr. Keith’s to Mr. Baird’s stock, although it

How it was Stamped Out.

61

was clearly proved that there had, been no contact
between any of the animals, neither had any of Mr.
Baird’s stock, subsequent to disease breaking out
been on the same ground as any of Mr. Keith’s. The
disease existed at these two farms from ist July
to 9th September, and must have been communi-
cated from the one herd to the other otherwise than
by the movement of cattle.

“ Case 2. — In Forgue the disease attacked only two herds,
The last of Mr. Ogg’s animals was slaughtered on
17th August, and Mrs. Booth’s cow was not attacked
till 6th September — an interval of twenty days. The
distance between the farms is about 200 yards, but
there had been no contact, and Mrs. Booth’s cows
were not upon the same ground as Mr. Ogg’s subse-
quent, or even for some time previous to, disease
breaking out. In this case disease was not caused
by the movement of cattle.

“ Case 3. — On 23rd November, a cow at Nether Hythie,
within 300 yards of Middle Hythie, the centre of
disease, was observed to be unwell, in consequence
of loss of appetite, and the supply of milk failing.
The parish and county Inspectors examined the
cow on 24th. There was no external symptom of
disease, no tears from the ej^es, but the vagina
showed the characteristic appearances of rinderpest,
and the fourth stomach, on a post-mortem examin-
ation, clearly confirmed the existence of Cattle
Plague. The cow was immediately slaughtered
(24th November), and the byre cleansed and disin-
fected, but no preventive medicine was adminis-
tered to the other cows. No further case of disease
occurred for twenty days, when on 13th December

62 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

another cow (standing behind the one previously
slaughtered) was observed to be unwell and was
killed the day following. Up to this date the re-
maining cows in the same byre have not been
attacked. It is doubtful whether the second cow
got the disease from the one first killed, or whether
it was a fresh communication from the original
centre (distant some 300 yards only). It is remark-
able that a calf at Mr. Mitchell’s, another at Mr.
Robertson’s, and the second cow at Nether Hythie,
three places all within 500 yards of the original
centre, were affected within a day of each other,
after an interval of twenty days, during which there
had been no disease in the neighbourhood. It may
be surmised that contagion had, by atmospheric
influence, been conveyed from manure, or offals
of deceased animals imperfectly covered at Middle
Hythie, where 28 animals had either died or been
slaughtered in an advanced stage of disease, produc-
ing a large mass of contagious matter.

“ Case 4. — Disease broke out at Greenwards in a byre
containing five cows. One showed external symp-
toms, and some of the others were slightly affected.
The five cows were slaughtered on 16th November,
and the rest of the stock (22 animals), all in adjoin-
ing houses, still remain unaffected.

“ Case 5. — In contrast with the two preceding cases is
that at Longmuir. There a calf was found to be
unwell, and was treated by an unskilful practitioner,
who assured the owner that it was not labouring
under rinderpest. As a precautionary measure, the
calf was separated from all other animals, and
treated for some days, when it died. The In-

How it was Stamped Out.

63

spectors were called in, and found that the calf had
died of rinderpest. By this time nearly all the
owner’s stock, consisting of twenty-seven animals,
were more or less affected, and the whole had to
be slaughtered.”

The Parish Committees had been instructed to
enquire into the origin of each new outbreak of disease,
and in order to ascertain as closely as possible how
disease had been communicated from one herd to
another, queries had been sent to the committees of
seven parishes by the Honorary Secretary, and these,
with abstract of the replies, were as follows : —

“ Query I. — How many herds have been attacked in your
parish, exclusive of the original centre ?

“Answer. — In all the parishes 28 different herds.

“ Query 2. — In how many of these cases was the Cattle
Plague communicated from one herd to another by
direct contact of cattle, or by the animals being on
the same ground, at different times ?

“Answer.- — In two cases known to be by contact.

“ Query 3. — In how many cases are you certain that
disease was not communicated in either of the ways
stated in the preceding query ?

“Answer. — Cannot be absolutely certain, but could not
discover how it was possible that the disease could
have been so communicated in 23 cases.

“ Query 4.— How many cases are doubtful ?

“ Answer. — Three.

“ Query 5. — Judging from your experience, could a total
stoppage of the movement of cattle be depended
on to put an end to the Cattle Plague ?

64 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

“Answer. — Six answer no; one believes it would, but
does not think it practicable.

“ Query 6. — Are other measures, such as those adopted
by this Association, equally necessary ?

“Answer. — Six Committees reply quite as necessary;
one answers undoubtedly as necessary, but I should
think not so certain.

“ Query 7. — Would it be sufficient, as far as the move-
ment of cattle is concerned, to' prevent any
movement of animals within a certain distance of
any affected animal or farmstead, this being in
addition to the prohibitions already in force as to
bringing cattle into the county, &c. ?

“ Answer. — All think it would be sufficient.

“ Query 8. — To what distance from disease should the
movement of animals be stopped ?

“Answer . — Three say half-a-mile ; three, one mile ; and
one, two miles.

“ Mr. Hay, V.S., the Inspector for the county, replied to
the same queries to the following effect : — ‘ Has
attended officially twenty-three herds, exclusive of
original centres. Of these, contagion was com-
municated in one case by direct contact ; in two
cases, by being on the same ground or eating the
same grass ; in seven cases, supposed by men ; and
in thirteen cases, the medium is not even conjec-
tured — but pretty certainly not by the contact or
movement of cattle in all the cases except one,
which is doubtful. Most emphatically the stoppage
of the movement of cattle would not stop the Plague.
Within a radius of one mile from Middle Hythie, no
cattle have been moved from their stalls since 4th
November, and round that centre there have been

How it was Stamped Out.

65

thirteen different outbreaks since that date. Be-
lieves it quite sufficient to stop the movement of
cattle in the neighbourhood of disease. Under the
management of this Association, where seldom more
than one animal is allowed to die, one mile would
be sufficient ; but where treatment is resorted to,
and a great number die, as in the case of Middle
Hythie, three miles of a radius might be required.’ ”

Systematic observation and inquiry as to the orgi-
nation of the disease cannot be said to have been carried
further than is shown in the extracts given ; and for the
very sufficient reason that the rinderpest had been ex-
tirpated in the county. It only remains to say that,
while the successive Orders issued by the Privy Council
for dealing with the Cattle Plague were to an appreci-
able extent shaped in accordance with the expressed
findings of the Association — which declined to approve
of the extreme step of prohibiting all movement of cattle
during the prevalence of Plague, recommended by a
majority of the Special Royal Commission, as the one
effectual remedy — the policy of “stamping out’’ by
slaughtering, with part compensation to owners, was
more and more seen to be the sound and safe course of
procedure. And chat principle was embodied in the Bill
for the Suppression of Cattle Plague introduced into the
House of Commons in February, 1866, by the Home
Secretary, Sir George Grey, and thereafter passed into
law.*

Abundant testimony to the success of the Aberdeen-
shire method of “ stamping out ” might be quoted from
the columns of leading London and other journals of the
* Appendix C.

66 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

time ; but there is no need to swell this brief record by
doing so. As tersely expressed by an able writer in one
of these journals, in commenting upon the statement of
the Honorary Secretary, the moral which the example
set had for owners of stock was this— 11 Trust to your-
selves in the first instance, and ’ don’t delay. Organise,
assess, offer compensation. Then take the poleaxe in
hand and kill without asking many questions. That
is what Aberdeenshire has done ; and hence, while of
all counties in the Kingdom it had most to dread
from the rinderpest , it is perhaps the one that will feel
the effects least.” And very much in the line of
practical enforcement of what is here laid down, as well
as of commendation of the intelligence and fearless
promptitude exhibited by the Executive of the
Association were the words of Mr. Gladstone, when on
26th September, 1871, as Liberal Premier of the time he
received the freedom of the city of Aberdeen. After
references to recent political movements in the county
of Aberdeen, the Premier said : —

“ But there was another service, and a marked service,
that Aberdeenshire did to the country at that very
period, in the winter which separated the years of 1865
and 1866. I allude to the cattle plague, and I wish to
say here that which I have said elsewhere in public and
in private, that it was an admirable spectacle, when all
over the country we were wandering and groping about,
some proposing the most absurd measures by way of
remedy and precaution, and others feeling themselves to
be totally in the dark — it was an admirable spectacle
when the gentry and farmers of the county of Aber-
deen, associating themselves together, with nothing to
rely upon except their own energy, except their own

How it was Stamped Out.

07

prudence and intelligence, devised for the ready, rapid,
and complete extinction of that plague, the very remedy
which, at a later period, after much ineffectual discussion,
the Legislature found itself counselled by prudence to
adopt. I cannot recollect, my Lord Provost, so remark-
able an example of local activity, self-reliance, practical
ability, and wisdom, holding up for the whole nation a
standard which that nation was ultimately glad to
follow. And now, if ever that disease should unfor-
tunately appear among us again, we have only got to
put in operation your remedy — the remedy by which you,
of the county of Aberdeen, taught us, with full assur-
ance, and with the blessing of Providence, the mischief
would be brought to a speedy and complete termina-
tion.”

With these emphatic words we may fitly close this
account of the Constitution and practical procedure of
the Aberdeenshire Rinderpest Association.

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX A.

Constitution, Rules, and Regulations of the Aberdeen-
shire Rinderpest Association.

Constitution.

I. The Association shall be known as the “ Aberdeenshire Rin-
derpest Association,” of which all Proprietor's and Tenants shall be
members for the year ending 30th June, 1866, who pay an Assess-
ment of One Penny per Pound on the agricultural rental of their
Estates or Farms on or before 30th December, 1865, or who, not
being liable to that Assessment, otherwise contribute to the funds
of the Association such sum as may be fixed by the Central Com-
mittee. But the Central Committee shall have power to admit
members after the date aforesaid.

II. No Member shall, under any circumstances, be liable for
any amount beyond the sum subscribed by him.

III. The sphere of the Association shall comprehend the whole
County of Aberdeen, together with the part of Banffshire situated
within it. And the Central Committee shall have power to include,
if it seem advisable to them, the part of Kincardineshire which lies
north of the Dee, and the Parish of Inverkeithing in Banffshire.

IV. The objects of the Association are— 1st, The extermination
within the County of the Cattle Disease, commonly known as the
Rinderpest or Cattle Plague ; and 2nd, The indemnification of
Sufferers by this Disease, to the extent and subject to the Rules
and Conditions after-mentioned, or such Rules and Regulations as
may from time to time be issued by the Central Committee.

Central Committee.

V. The whole powers and funds of the Association shall be
vested in a Committee to be called the “ Central Committee,” which

70 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

shall have full powers to indemnify sufferers by the disease as
under-mentioned, to delegate powers to Parish Committees, and
generally to take such measures as may to them seem advisable for
accomplishing the objects of the Association. All payments in-
demnifying sufferers shall be voted by the Central Committee.

VI. The Central Committee shall consist of the following
gentlemen : — •

The Earl of Kintore ; Alexander Forbes Irvine of Drum, Con-
vener of the County ; Sir Alexander Anderson, Lord
Provost of Aberdeen ; Sir James D. H. Elphinstone, Bart,
of Logie-Elphinstone ; William Leslie ofWarthill, M.P. ;
James W. Barclay, Aberdeen ; James Hay Chalmers, Ad-
vocate, Aberdeen ; Alexander Campbell, Blairton, Hill of
Mennie ; James Cochran, Little Haddo, Newburgh, Aber-
deen ; Sylvester Campbell, Kinnellar, Blackburn ; Anthony
Cruickshank, Aberdeen ; George Cruickshank, Comisty ;
Robert Copland, Mill of Ardletlien, Ellon ; Patrick David-
son of Inchmarlo ; William Cosmo Gordon of Fyvie.;
Thomas Innes of Learney ; Robert Kemp, Grain Merchant,
Aberdeen ; John Ligertwood, Advocate, Aberdeen ;
William M'Combie, Tillyfour, Whitehouse ; William S.
Marr, Uppermill, Tarves ; James Martin, Butcher, Aber-
deen; George Milne of Kinaldie, Dyce ; H. L. L. Mori-
son of Blair ; George Reid, Seedsman, Aberdeen ; James
Stewart, Butcher, Aberdeen ; Robert Williamson, Ben-
daugh, Dyce ; Alexander Sim, Fawells, Keith-hall ; John
Gordon of Parkhill ; Hugh F. Leslie of Powis ; John
Ross of Tilly corthie ; D. R. L. Grant of Kingsford ;
William M'Combie of Easter Skene ; A. F. Douglass,
Haddo House ; William M'Combie, Editor, Free Press j
C. A. Barclay, Aberdour House ; William Milne, Account-
ant, Aberdeen ; Provost Alexander, Peterhead ; John
Logan, Lunderty, St. Fergus ; R. Macdonald, Cluny
Castle ; Alexander Mitchell of Kincraig.

Also the Convener of each Parish Committee. The Central Com-
mittee shall have power to add to its number, and five members
shall form a quorum.

Appendices.

71

Parish Committees.

VII. The Parish Committees shall collect the Assessments, and
remit through their Conveners to the Secretary of the Central Com-
mittee, watch over the Interests of the Association in their respec-
tive parishes, reporting to the Central Committee and District
Inspector any suspicious cases of disease, or any cattle which may
have been brought into the parish from places out of the county,
or regarding which suspicions may exist, and generally assist in
carrying out the instructions and regulations of the Central Com-
mittee.

General Rules and Regulations.

VIII. As soon as the owner of any cattle observes any disease
amongst his animals, which he knows or suspects to be Rinderpest,
or any disease which he does not know, he shall immediately in-
form the District Inspector, and the Convener of the Parish Com-
mittee thereof, and carefully attend to and comply with the in-
structions he may receive from either of them ; and should the
disease be declared to be Rinderpest by any of the Inspectors for
the county, the owner of the diseased animals shall be bound to
place his whole stock of Cattle under the direction and control of
the Central Committee and its officers, to be dealt with as shall
seem most advisable to them for the public good, and subject to
the rules and regulations here laid down, and which may from
time to time be hereafter laid down by the Central Committee.

IX. All the Members of the Association shall be bound to ad-
here to, and observe the whole of the rules, regulations, and pre-
cautions prescribed in the Orders issued by the Privy Council, or
from time to time by the Central Committee, or contained in any
Act of Parliament, and shall give all necessary assistance in carry-
ing out the objects of the Association.

X. Members of the Association who may be sufferers by the
disease of “ Rinderpest ” shall, as a general rule, be indemnified
to the extent of three-fourths of their loss where the animals have
been slaughtered or disposed of by the Central Committee, or by a
Parish Committee authorised by them, but under special circum-
stances the Central Committee shall have full power to diminish
the proportion of indemnification.

72 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

XI. Sufferers by this disease who are not members of this
Association, or members who shall infringe any of the preceding
rules and regulations, or the rules, regulations, or precautions
which may be issued by the Central Committee, or under any Order
in Council, or any Act of Parliament having reference to the Rinder-
pest, shall have no claim on, or right to the funds of the Association,
but the Central Committee shall have power to treat with or in-
demnify such parties to such extent, and in such manner as they
shall deem advisable for the public good.

XII. The Central Committee shall be bound to see that the
provisions of any Orders in Council or Act of Parliament are
carried out, and to recover the penalties for non-compliance there-
with.

XIII. At the end of every three months, from the ist October,
1865, the accounts of the Association shall be made up, and a General
Meeting of the whole Members shall be held in Aberdeen, to
instruct the Central Committee as to farther proceedings, and as to
the disposal of any Balance of Funds which may then belong to
the Association, and which Balance shall be disposed of as the
majority of Members present at such meeting may direct.

XIV. All claims made on the Association and passed and
admitted by the Central Committee shall be payable out of the
funds of the Association, so far as sufficient for that purpose
immediately after the Quarterly General Meeting of the Association.

XV. Nothing in these rules contained, and no contribution
given by a member or other person, shall entitle any one, whether a
member of the Association or not, to any legal claim on the funds
of the Association, or on its members individually. The whole
fund shall be at the disposal and under the discretionary control of
the Central Committee, who shall be responsible only to the
Association itself for the moneys impressed into their hands and
the disposal thereof ; it being understood and agreed on that the
indemnification provided for above shall not be claimable as a debt
or obligation by any member.

Appendices.

73

APPENDIX B.

The most recent outbreak of cattle plague under British
surveillance occurred in the island of Cyprus in the end of 1879
anu beginning of 1880. The following paragraph, describing the
results of -post mortem examinations, is taken from the report of Dr.
Hei'denstam, Civil Surgeon of Larnaca, who acted under authority
of the High Commissioner as Chief Inspector of Cattle Diseases. As
will be seen, the description of symptoms agrees substantially with
what was found when the disease prevailed in Aberdeenshire : —

“ I have examined the bodies of over one hundred animals after
death, and have found, almost invariably, that the interior of the
carcases presented the same appearance. The inside of the mouth
and pharynx were of a darkish red colour. The tongue was flabby,
and covered with a yellowish exudation. I saw nothing remark-
able about the three first stomachs, but on the fourth I noticed
several deep red blotches, and in some cases it was spotted with
small ulcers, which forcibly reminded me of those so common in
cases of catarrhal inflammation of the human stomach. I was
surprised to find the small intestines, generally speaking, free from
disease. The bronchial mucous membrane was frequently injected
and covered with tough mucous. The lungs were congested and
swollen, and their interlobular tissue was distended with air. The
heart was relaxed and discoloured. The brain appeared to be
unaffected, although it was more than usually injected with blood,
and the meninges were of a reddish colour. I noticed no particular
change about any of the other parts, except that the body was
generally more red than is customary, as were also the urinary and
generative organs.”

74 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

appendix c.

The following general statement on the subject of cattle plague
in this country is taken, slightly condensed, from the supplement to
Chambers's Encyclopedia , published in 1868 : —

“The British outbreak of 1865-1867, like its predecessors,
undoubtedly came from Russia. The steamer Tonning, from
Revel, brought 331 cattle and 330 sheep into Hull on 29th May,
1865. A portion of the cattle had come from the interior of
Russia, where the plague then was, or recently had been ; the
cargo was rapidly landed, and very hurriedly inspected. Nearly
half of the cattle were distributed in various lots to butchers in
Leeds, Derby, and Manchester, but, curiously, these do not appear
to have left any contagion in their trail. One hundred and seventy-
five came to London, remained from the Monday evening until
Thursday’s market in lairs at York Road, adjoining the cattle
market. It is stated in a leader in the Times of 15th August, that
rinderpest was seen in the metropolitan market as early as 12th
June. Certain it is that more than one lot purchased on 19th June
carried the disease to several dairies in and about London. Until
nth August, 1865, no restrictions whatever were put upon the
removal of cattle. As early as i8th July, the pest was brought
from London to Huntly by four calves ; subsequent outbreaks
occurred in the same way. The stamping-out system was, how-
ever, early and rigidly enforced in Aberdeenshire, and eight
distinct outbreaks of the plague were promptly got rid of.

“ In Edinburgh, it appeared probably about 9th August, was
brought from London by some low-priced foreign cows ; and in six
weeks, about 800, or one half the dairy cows in Edinburgh, had
died — 200 having been buried in one trench. By the end of
January, four-fifths of the dairy cows had perished, but Edinburgh
was reported clear. In Glasgow, the first case occurred on 19th
August, in a cow sent from Edinburgh. By 30th September, 432
cases were reported, and it continued to spread. By the middle
of October, it was in Mr. Harvey’s valuable stock of 800, of which

Appendices.

75

25 died in one night, and to save further loss, 50 healthy animals
were in one day disposed of to the butcher. From Falkirk Trysts,
as from Barnet, Norwich Hill, and other large English fairs, the
disease was transmitted into fresh localities. From the autumn
trysts, it was carried into Perthshire, Forfarshire, and Fifeshire.
Diseased cattle passing along in railway trucks appear to have
spread the contagion over the fields adjoining the line at Thorn-
ton, Fifeshire. Into West Lothian it was conveyed early in
September by lambs from the Edinburgh market.

“ The rapid spread of the insidious disorder may be gathered
from the fact that, whilst during the week ending 24th June, 1865,
there was only one outbreak at Mrs. Nicholl’s dairy at Islington,
and 30 animals affected, by 30th September there were 1702 farms,
sheds, or other places in which the pest had appeared, and 13,263
animals had been attacked. Three months later, 8252 separate
places had been visited, and 62,743 animals attacked. During six
months, the aggregate of cattle attacked was 76,002. During the
three months to 30th March, 13,443 farms and other premises had
been infected, and 147,275 cattle attacked. In December, 1865,
the fresh cases each week reached 9000 ; but in spite of remedial
and preventive measures, of Orders in Council, and restrictions on
the movement of stock, the number of weekly cases steadily in-
creased to 15,706 in the third week of February. ‘The Cattle
Diseases Prevention Act’ passed 20th February, 1866, and the
advantages flowing from the restrictions thus tardily imposed on
the trade in cattle, and the slaughter of diseased and infected
animals were speedily apparent. In four weeks, the number of
cases was reduced by one half. During the three months ending
30th June, 28,276 cases were reported ; during the next three
months to 30th September, the numbers fell to 2108 ; whilst to 29th
December the three months’ cases were but 149 ; to 30th March,
1867, 89 new cases were noted. Throughout April and May the
number of cases continued steadily to decline ; but during the
week ending 25th May a fresh outbreak occurred in the Finsbury
district of the metropolis, and 81 animals died, or were slaughtered
to prevent the further spread of the pest. With the exception of
an isolated outbreak in Essex, which was promptly stayed by
slaughter of the ailing and suspected animals, the country was free

76 Rinderpest in Aberdeenshire in 1865.

of plague during August. By the ‘ Consolidated Order of Council
(August, 1867), foreign cattle, from 13th September, 1867, are to be
slaughtered at the ports of debarkation, and the reintroduction of
cattle plague into Great Britain is thus tolerably effectually guarded
against.

“The total number of animals affected in Great Britain to 31st
August, 1867, has been 278,923 ; about 125,000 have died; whilst
nearly 60,000 healthy cattle have been slaughtered to prevent the
further spread of the disease. The numbers of cattle in England,
Wales, and Scotland, attacked, killed, &c., may be thus approxi-
mately stated ; about 11,000 cases known to have been attacked
are, however, unaccounted for : —

Attacked.

Killed.

Died.

Recovered.

England,

223-672

102,740

9 °, 45°

to

Cn

00

'O

Wales, .

8,388

1,180

5)794

1,117

Scotland,

46,863

6,263

28,088

10,707

Total, .

• 278,923

iio,iS3

124,332

33,413

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