§ MR. DUCKHAMasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether the report contained in the "Times" of the 15th instant of twelve Canadian cattle being conveyed from Liverpool to Bristol whilst suffering from foot and mouth disease is correct; and, if so, what steps will be taken to prevent a recurrence of such a reckless means of spreading disease amongst the herds and flocks of the Country?
§ MR. DODSONThe Canadian animals found in Bristol Market affected with foot-and-mouth disease came from Liverpool. Wherever landed, they could not have got out of the foreign animals landing place unless they were free from disease. We are informed that they had been in contact in Liverpool Market with Irish cattle suffering from foot-and-mouth disease. They arrived at Bristol on the 8th instant, and the disease appeared on the 11th instant. All have been slaughtered since.
§ MR. DUCKHAMasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether any inquiry has been made to ascertain the correctness of the following statement contained in a letter to the "Times," of the 30th ultimo, from Mr. Moffat, Agent of the United States Department of Agriculture—
For two years not a case of disease (foot and month) was brought to the attention of the United States Commission, except in two instances of freshly imported consignments from Great Britain;and, that, seeing that the disease rarely exceeds three days in developing itself, and as the passage occupies an average of nine days, and as upon arrival animals are subjected to ninety days' quarantine, if he could explain how it was possible that animals imported from Great Britain could convey it into that Country?
§ MR. DODSONNo inquiry was necessary, because it is an undoubted fact that foot-and-mouth disease has been exported from this country into America. The beginning of it, however, was that in 1881 we received a cargo from America suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, and shortly afterwards we heard that a cargo of Jersey animals had been shipped for America in the same vessel. We telegraphed the fact to the American Government, and on the arrival of the vessel in America the cattle were found to be affected with the disease. A similar case occurred during this year, when a cargo of Channel Islands' cattle landed at Baltimore were found to be affected with foot-and-mouth disease. The incubation of the disease is from two to four days; but it takes from two to four weeks to pass through a herd, according to the number, and there is nothing Strange in its lasting during a voyage across the Atlantic. The quarantine of 90 days is no security against the indirect introduction of the disease by means of persons and things in the quarantine station passing out of it. It only secures safety from the particular animals placed in quarantine.