MR. FARQUHARSON (Dorset, W.)asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, In order to avoid the indiscriminate slaughter of cattle on the occasion of outbreaks of pleuro-pneumonia, some method of quarantine can be arranged for cattle merely suspected and not actually infected; whether he will give instructions that on every occasion of the outbreak of pleuro-pneumonia, special inquest shall be held with a view to tracing the origin of the disease; and, whether arrangements can be made, in cases where the disease is clearly traceable from imported cattle, for the compensation for slaughtered cattle to be paid from the Consolidated Fund instead of from the rates.
§ VISCOUNT LEWISHAM (Lewisham)(who replied) said: The whole subject of pleuro-pneumonia, in reference to its origin, its prevalance in the United Kingdom, and the best measure to be adopted for the purpose of stamping it out, was considered by the Departmental Committee which sat a few months ago and took evidence from a large number of witnesses; and the Order of March, 1888, which is now in force, for the slaughter of cattle which have been exposed to the infection of pleuro-pneumonia, is in strict accordance with the recommendation of that Committee. The alternative of quarantine for the duration of the animal's life—namely, up to the time of slaughter, was also considered by the Committee and rejected by them; (2), the travelling Inspectors and veterinary officers of the Agricultural Department and Local Authorities use their best endeavors to trace the origin of outbreaks; (3), the payment of compensation out of the Consolidated Fund can only be sanctioned by Parliament.