Medical (Veterinary), Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, John Henry Steel Medal, a silver award by A. Wyon, bust three-quarters left, rev. arms, edge named (Stewart Stockman MRCVS, 6th October 1905), 60mm. Edge knock, otherwise good very fine £90-120

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, British Medals from the Collection of James Spencer.

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Sir Stewart Stockman, CVO (1869-1926), appointed the government’s chief veterinary officer in 1905, oversaw the huge slaughter of livestock resulting from several outbreaks of foot and mouth disease in 1922-4. The disease was particularly virulent in Cheshire where 300,000 animals had to be destroyed. Stockman believed it was connected with the migratory habits of birds and also sought to put blame on the importation of Argentine beef through Liverpool at a time when that country was also rife with FMD