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39
effects of it in this City, and the way in which the
Metropolitan Cattle Market has been made the
focus of contagion, it is evident that the consequences
have been most serious. As many as 200
diseased bullocks have been exposed for sale at one
time in the City market, mixing with from 6,000
to 7,000 beasts, besides from 30,000 to 40,000
sheep, and many hundreds of calves and pigs.
That which was required at the very beginning
of the outbreak was the most decisive and effectual
means of arresting contagion. Regulations should
have been made for the slaughtering of all animals
that came to the public markets; and encouragement
should have been given to the sending of
dead meat, instead of live cattle, to the metropolis.
The highways should have been strictly guarded
against the movements of infected beasts, and all
the vessels and trucks employed in the transport of
cattle should have been thoroughly disinfected
directly after their use. In brief, all traffic in live
stock should have been stopped; all diseased
animals should have been isolated; and all infected
sites and vehicles disinfected. The application
of rules for these purposes should
have been general and not partial. It should
have been considered that they had reference
to the whole country, and not to any particular
place; and the execution of them should