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166
Of this number, 7,742 were claimed by their owners and the remainder were
sent to the Dogs' Home for sale or destruction.
Nine cases of suspected rabies in London were reported during the year but
the existence of the disease was not confirmed by the veterinary inspectors, the
suspicious symptoms being proved to arise from other causes.
Parasitic
mange.
The conditions under which trade horses are fed and worked in London, tend
to encourage the spread of parasitic mange. During 1928 the returns of cases
in London showed a considerable decrease. The following figures relate to 1928:—
Outbreaks, 19; horses affected, 71; infringements, 5; all of which were dealt with
by written cautions. For the purposes of comparison, it may be pointed out that the
number of outbreaks in 1927 was 65, affecting 127 horses.
Foot and
mouth
disease.
In consequence of an outbreak of foot and mouth disease at Mitcham, the
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries made an Order on 28th January, 1928, declaring
a district within a radius of 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 nearly the whole of the County of London. As no
further case of the disease was disclosed, the Order was modified on 11th February,
1928, so far as the portion of the County north of the Thames was concerned, and the
remainder of the County was released from movement restrictions on 2nd March,
1928.
In consequence of another outbreak in Kent, a similar Order was made on 20th
October 1928, which included a portion of the County of London south of the river
Thames, but London was again released from restriction on 4th November, 1928.
In the case of both outbreaks, 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 infected area and to permit movement
within or into such area only under licence.
In connection with an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Wexford, Ireland,
in February, 1928, arrangements were made for all animals in transit from Ireland
to London to be examined for symptoms of the disease. All the animals were intended
for immediate slaughter, and the Council satisfied itself that this was carried out.
There were 17 infringements of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Infected Areas
Restrictions) Order of 1925, which were dealt with by means of written cautions.
Enforcement
of orders.
To ensure that the requirements of the several Orders in force from time to
time are being observed, and that the animals are not caused unnecessary suffering
during transit and are free from signs of disease, the Council's inspectors pay numerous
visits to railway wharves, depots, etc., where animals in transit are collected. The
visits during 1928 numbered 2,914, the animals examined being—horses 2,332,
cattle 57,990, sheep 84,203, swine 53,606, making a total of 198,131. There were
63 infringements, 54 written cautions, 9 cases of legal proceedings and 7 convictions
with 6 penalties and costs amounting to £79 12s. Od.
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, was issued by the Minister of
Agriculture and Fisheries and came into force on 1st February, 1926. It 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. No infringements of the Order
were reported.
An Order entitled the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Boiling of Animals Foodstuffs)
Order, dated 7th February, 1928, was issued by the Minister of Agriculture and
Fisheries, which came into operation on 1st March, 1928, and revoked existing Orders.
The new Order not only made it an offence to bring the materials specified in the
Order into contact with animals or to give them to animals as food before such
materials were boiled, but also made it an offence to permit any animals to be brought