The Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act 1878 (41 & 42 Vict.

c. 74) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed by Benjamin Disraeli's Conservative government.

A select committee was appointed in 1877 to investigate animal diseases.

The resulting Act established central rather than local control over all outbreaks of animal disease.

[3] The agriculturist Jacob Wilson considered the Act "an undoubted benefit conferred upon the agricultural interest by the Conservative Government".