§ MR. LABOUCHEREasked the President of the Board of Trade, Whether he is aware that, since the prohibition on the importation of French rags has been removed, a large number of bales of rags have been imported from French ports; and, whether he will take steps to see that such bales, coming from Foreign ports, will be disinfected before they are carried inland by rail, as it may be that they consist of accumulations of rags containing cholera germs?
MR. GEORGE RUSSELLThere is no doubt that a large number of bales of rags has been imported from French ports since our order expired on the 1st instant. We know of no instance of cholera being imported in rags, and we have allowed such a period to elapse since the date of the last known case of cholera in Europe as would materially reduce any possible danger. It does not appear that it would be further reduced by any of the customary processes of disinfection in use at English ports.