 It s a bad time for the vets and a local farmer when they discover a case of foot and mouth disease. The farmer s stock must be destroyed and a general quarantine is in place for thirty days. Sigfried, who came into contact with the animals confines himself to Skeldale house, meaning James and Tristan must do all of the outside calls. James discovers the power of anesthesia in assisting animals to heal: first with a farmer s dying ewe and then with the Flaxton s pet poodle.