[SHARPE (William)]. An Order of His Majesty in Council, Dated the Fourteenth Day of December, 1749. Containing Further Rules, Orders, and Regulations for the more effectual preventing the spreading of Distemper which now rages amongst the Horned Cattle in the Kingdom.1749

London: Printed by Thomas Baskett, Folio (308 x 188 mm), 6pp., sometime bound with similar items now disbound, stab holes to gutter margin. Cattle plague, or distemper of the horned cattle as it was commonly known, was the subject of considerable government action in the eighteenth century. The disease was particularly prevalent in 1745 to 1748, when it has been calculated that half a million beasts were lost, reaching its peak in 1747-48. Government introduced restrictions on the movement of cattle, drovers were required to carry a certificate stating that the area they had just passed through had not been infected for 6 months. However, this was open to corrupt inspectors falsifying dates on the certificate. To prevent the further spreading of the disease the Privy Council here banned the movement of cattle for three months - which caused an uproar. ESTC locating a single copy at The National Archives, Kew.