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38
DISEASES OF ANIMALS
The Borough was free from notifiable diseases of animals;
throughout the year, but was involved in outbreaks occurring elsewhere.
On the 19th November, because of numerous outbreaks of Foot
and Mouth Disease in north-east and eastern coastal areas, the
Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries made a large controlled area
under the Foot and Mouth Disease (Controlled Area Restrictions)
General Order of 1938. On 20th November this area was extended
to include Acton, and immediately the movement of all clovenhoofed
animals into the Borough was controlled and could only be
made on licences granted in accordance with the terms of the Order.
This area was still scheduled at the end of the year, by which
time the department had issued 1,528 movement licences, and
17,379 pigs had been moved into Walls' Slaughterhouse on licence.
The work of issuing licences from the office, checking licences,
inspecting animals and supervising the disinfection of vehicles at
the Slaughterhouse, entailed the working of a considerable amount
of overtime by members of the staff.
There were 41 contraventions of the General Order. In the
course of correspondence and investigation it appeared that none
of these cases occurred as a result of deliberate intent but rather
as results of errors or misunderstandings and in some cases through
misinformation from official sources. In each case a warning letter
was sent and acknowledged, and there were no further contraventions
by the offenders.
SECTION H
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
In February, seven atmospheric pollution stations were established
in the Borough on sites selected in consultations with the Fuel
Research Section of the Department of Scientific and Industrial
Research. Each station was equipped with one Lead Peroxide
apparatus. Owing to delay in the supply of the Deposit Gauge