Chapters 45 - 48 Summary

Chapter forty-five shows how as a country vet, James needs to be on the lookout for contagious diseases such as foot and mouth disease. On Mr. Duggleby's farm James nearly misses the dreaded diagnosis because of their engrossing conversation about cricket. "It is one of the nicest things about country practice, but you have to keep your mind on the job at the same time or you could be in trouble" (p. 394, chap. 45). Fortunately, James notices the foot and mouth and manages to prevent the spread of the disease that could devastate all the farmers of Yorkshire. Toward the end of the quarantine period, James calls on Mrs. Bailey whose cow has a vesicle on a milking teat. Initially James fears it is another case of foot and mouth, but it turns out to be nothing more than cowpox caused by...