Some of the newspaper and journal articles I found during my research are a bit too long or wordy to include in the main body of my essay. So I have made them into separate drill-down pages, and introduced some punctuation in my transcript so you don't get too breathless. Any comments are in [blue italics]. Please click any of the links on the left to get back.
This transcript from the London Evening Post of Thursday 5th December 1745. It gives the wording of an Order published from Hick's Hall (the old Middlesex Magistrates' building) concerning the new Commissioners chosen to oversee the containment of the outbreak, and the rules to be followed. It is clear that some lessons were learnt from the 1714 outbreak.
"Hick’s Hall in the County of Middlesex, 2nd December
"This Day the Gentlemen appointed by Order of the Lords of his Majesty’s most Honourable Privy Council, to endeavour to put a Stop to the spreading of the Distemper which now rages amongst the Milch Cows and Calves in the County of Middlesex, met, and have chose Joseph Walker, of Clare-Market, in the County of Middlesex, Butcher, John Lane, of Islington, Cow-keeper, Thomas Rhodes of the Parish of Pancras, Cowkeeper, Edwards Tomkins, of Mansell-Street, Goodman’s Fields, Butcher, and John Penny, of Dyot-Street, in the Parish of St Giles in the Fields, Butcher, to be their Surveyors.
"And at the same Time the said Gentlemen deliver’d in Writing to each of the said Surveyors the following Instructions, to be by them observ’d, viz:
- You are to view from Time to Time, and to take Care of all the sick Cows within your Districts, and frequently inspect the Cowhouses, and observe if the Farmers and Cowkeepers separate the sick from the sound Cows, in such Manner as is necessary to prevent Infection; as also if they keep their Cowhouses and Yards clean, and take away the Dung and Filth as often as is needful.
- You are to kill all Cows and Calves as soon as they fall sick, and cause them to be buried as quick as possible. The early destroying of them being found by Experience to be the most effectual Method to stop the Distemper.
- You are to take Care that the Hides of all the Cows to be buried by cut and slash’d in several Places, particularly from Head to Tail on both Sides, and round the Middle of their Bodies; as also that the Cows be buried with unslack’d Lime, allowing after the Rate of two Bushels to each Cow, for which Lime we shall allow after the Rate of nine Shillings a hundred, and one Shilling more for each Cow the Farmers or Cowkeepers shall bury as by us directed.
- You are to take special Care that the Cows be buried ten Feet deep; and where that is impossible by Reason of Springs, that they be buried as deep as may be.
- You are to give the Farmers and Cowkeepers Notice as soon as the Distemper comes into any of their Herds, to dig Pits in readiness, and lay in a Stock of Lime to be ready when wanted, that no Time may be lost in burying the Cows; for which Lime they shall be paid as it is used.
- You are to acquaint them that the Allowance above-mention’d will only be made to them for their Charge of digging Pits, provided they dig them in Time, and as deep as we require, but not otherwise; and that herein we shall be very strict.
- You are also to observe whether they cover their Cows when buried, and fill up the Pits in due Time, ramming the Earth so well that there be no Annoyance to Neighbours, or Danger of Infection.
- If any Farmer or Cowkeeper refuses on your Demand to kill and bury any of his sick Cows, or to let you kill and bury them for him, in hopes they may recover, or on any other Pretence, you are to acquaint him, that we shall not think ourselves oblig’d to allow him Forty Shillings a Cow for them as we do others; the chief End of giving that Allowance being to command the Cows as soon as they fall Sick, which is their Interest also, as it tends to preserve the rest of their Herd.
- You are to enquire and observe from time to time how their Stock increases or decreases, and whether they buy in any fresh Cows or Calves, or sell any of their present Stock, we having strictly forbid their doing of either.
- You are to inform us of any Fraud that may be put upon the Government by any Farmer or Cowkeeper, or any other Person whatsoever, or any Practice tending thereto.
- You are to give Notice to the Farmers and Cowkeepers, and likewise to take Care yourself, that no Cows by buried within any Common, Waste, or Road (except in Tothill-Fields, there being no other Place near to bury them in) without particular Orders.
- You are to take all Opportunities from time to time to give us or our Secretary an Account of your Proceedings, and receive our further Directions.
"The said Gentlemen do hereby give notice to all Farmers and Cowkeepers in the said County of Middlesex, that they follow the above Instructions, and also suffer the said Surveyors to do their Duty as above directed; and those who refuse or neglect so to do will not be entitled to any Allowance for the Loss of any of their Cows and Calves.
"By Order of the said Gentlemen, THOMAS DREW, Secretary, Tokenhouse-Yard, Lothbury [street on north side of the Bank of England]."
[The original county of Middlesex occupies what is now the north-west area of Greater London, and included the City of London, the West End and the City of Westminster. It was bounded on the south by the River Thames; across the Thames was Surrey. Tothill Fields were marshy fields at Westminster until the early 1800s - see the map in Demand and Supply]