Sir, - There is mounting concern - in Britain at least - over the hazards to human beings of the foot-and-mouth epidemic. There is much talk, for instance, of the first suspected human case in Cumbria and alarm about the threat of dioxins released into the atmosphere from the burning pyres in Devon.
However, there is a more significant and neglected human hazard. This has been tentatively dubbed "foot and mat disease" in Cork, and involves a wide variety of serious injuries resulting from tripping over crumpled and poorly placed disinfectant mats. We are seeing a growing number of such cases in the three emergency departments in this city and would urge those laying down the mats to do so with care and to warn those using them of the real (not remote) risks of tripping on them. - Yours, etc.,
Dr L.C. Luke, Consultant in Accident and Emergency Medicine, Cork Affiliated Hospitals, Southern Health Board, Cork.