§ SIR WALTER BARTTELOTasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether an outbreak of cattle plague has taken place at Willesden; and, if so, what steps have been taken by the local authority to stamp out the disease; and, whether he is able to trace in any way the source of this fresh outbreak? He also wished to ask his noble Friend, whether it is true that an outbreak of cattle plague has occurred at Kirtlington, in Oxfordshire, at a considerable distance from London?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONI regret to say that an outbreak of cattle plague at Willesden was reported to the Veterinary Department of the Council on Saturday, the 7th of April. The Chief Inspector was instructed to proceed to the place at once, and on his arrival he found 15 cows out of a herd of 157 affected with the disease. These animals were immediately slaughtered and buried. On the following day other cases occurred, and the Middlesex Local Authority, which appears to be acting with great promptitude on this occasion, held a meeting on Monday, and ordered the slaughter of the whole herd, and directed the adoption of other precautionary measures under the Act and Orders to prevent the spreading of the disease. I have just been informed that the Middlesex Local Authority has stopped all fairs and markets, and the removal of cattle in the county of Middlesex. With regard to the other part of the Question, 840 we suppose this outbreak was connected. with the outbreak at Shepherd's Bush; but at present we are unable to trace the connection between the two. In consequence of a report in some of the morning papers that cattle plague had appeared on a farm at Kirtlington, in Oxfordshire, the Clerk of the Council telegraphed to the clerk of the peace, and, I am glad to say, received the following reply—"The report is untrue. The case at Kirtlington is wholly unconnected with cattle plague or any contagious disease." I beg to give Notice that on Thursday next I shall move for a Select Committee to inquire into the causes of the recent outbreak of cattle plague and the measures taken for its suppression; into the effect which the importation of live foreign animals has upon the introduction of disease into this country: and how far such importation is essential to the food supply of the country.
§ SIR WALTER BARTTELOTwished to know, whether instructions had been given that the manure of the infected cattle should be burnt or destroyed?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONdid not know precisely what the local authorities had done in that matter; but instructions were given by the Inspectors that the manure should be either disinfected or burnt.
§ COLONEL KINGSCOTEasked, if it were not the case that the cattle plague broke out at Willesden on the 3rd April, and that, though the owner knew or believed the disease to be cattle plague, information did not reach the Government till Saturday, the 7th April?
§ VISCOUNT SANDONwas unable to enter into details at present, but was afraid that some delay had taken place in reporting the matter to the Department.