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167
Swine fever has been very prevalent throughout Great Britain during the past
few years and an outbreak was dealt with in London during the year. During
1926 no fewer than 17.285 swine were examined at feeders' premises.
Swine fever.
The Council is convinced that the most efficacious measures for stamping out
hydrophobia are muzzling, the seizure of all stray dogs and the regulation of the
importation of dogs. Under the Dogs Act, 1906, which revoked all then existing
muzzling regulations, the Council made new regulations requiring the wearing of
collars by dogs while on a highway. Under these regulations, 29,813 dogs were
seized by the police during 1926 and 21,584 were destroyed.
Rabies.
On the outbreak of the Great War, the Order dealing with parasitic mange was
temporarily suspended, with the result that the disease increased largely. The
conditions under which trade horses are fed and worked in London, particularly
during busy seasons, tend to encourage the spread of the disease. During 1926,
the returns of cases in London showed a slight decrease. The following figures
relate to 1926:—Outbreaks, 57 ; horses affected, 91; infringements, 11; written
cautions sent, 8; cases referred to solicitor, 3; convictions, 3; penalties and costs,
£38 5s. For the purposes of comparison, it may be pointed out that the number of
outbreaks in 1925 was 73, affecting 106 horses.
Parasitic
mange.
As the outcome of one of the recommendations of the Departmental Committee
on Foot and Mouth Disease the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries issued an Order,
entitled the Movement of Animals (Records) Order, 1925, which had for its object
the provision of a ready means of tracing animals which may have been in contact
with diseased or suspected animals. The new Order, which came into force on 1st
February, 1926, requires, with certain exceptions, records to be kept by any person
who moves or permits any animal to be moved to or from any premises. Two
infringements of the Order were dealt with by means of written cautions.
Foot and
mouth
disease.
In consequence of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease at New Maiden, Surrey,
the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries made an Order on 31st March, 1926,
declaring a district within 15 miles of the infected place to be an " infected area "
for the purposes of the Foot and Mouth Disease (Infected Areas Restrictions) Order
of 1925. This area included the County of London. As no further case of the
disease was disclosed the Order was withdrawn on 29th April, 1926.
A further outbreak occurred at Southgate, Hertfordshire, and on 22nd September,
1926, an Order was made declaring a district within a radius of 15 miles of the
infected place to be an " infected area." This area included the County of London,
which was released from movement restrictions on 7th October, 1926.
There was an outbreak also at Harmondsworth, Middlesex, as the result of
which the Minister made an Order, on 4th November, 1926, declaring a district
within a radius of 15 miles of the infected place to be an " infected area." This
area included ten metropolitan boroughs. The portion of the County of London
concerned was released from movement restrictions on 19th November, 1926.
In the case of each outbreak, the necessary steps were taken to bring to the
notice of the persons concerned the provisions of the Orders of which the effect is
to prohibit the movement of animals out of the area and to permit movement
within or into the district only under licence.
There were 63 infringements of the Foot and Mouth Disease (Infected Areas
Restrictions) Order of 1925, all of which were dealt with by means of written cautions.
With a view to eliminating as far as possible the danger of the introduction
into this country of foot and mouth disease by means of carcases imported from the
continent of Europe, the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries on 2nd June, 1926,
made an Order entitled the Importation of Carcases (Prohibition) Order of 1926,
prohibiting, with certain exceptions, the importation of such carcases. The necessary
steps were taken to bring the provisions of the Order to the notice of the persons
concerned.