§ THE EARL OF DERBYI am afraid my noble Friend must be nearly tired of answering Questions, but I hope he will excuse my putting another to him—more particularly as I have not given any notice of it. But it was not until this morning that I saw a notification, which appeared last night in the Gazette, to the effect that smallpox had broken out among the sheep in Northamptonshire. I trust that measures either have been or will be promptly taken to prevent any sheep from being allowed to leave the district where the disease has shown itself, and also that provision will be made for burying the carcass of any infected animal. I will only further say that we shall have reason to feel 805 indebted to the noble Earl if he can lay before us any information in addition to that which has appeared in the morning papers; because, if we have the cattle plague supplemented and aggravated by smallpox among the sheep, there is no knowing to what extent the mischief may prevail.
§ EARL GRANVILLEI am sorry to say that, according to the information which has reached me, smallpox appears to have broken out among the sheep in a district of Northamptonshire. Of course, we did not lose a single moment in issuing an Order suitable to the circumstances that have arisen. I am encouraged to hope that the mischief may not prove extensive, because a similar case occurred a few months ago, and by prompt and timely measures the disease was entirely stamped out.
§ THE EARL OF DERBYCan the noble Earl state that any information has been received as to the means by which the disease was imported into the district? Has he been able to trace its origin?
§ EARL GRANVILLEThe origin of the disease is exceedingly doubtful. I am speaking merely from memory, but the sheep were bought, I think, on the 4th of December, and it was on the 28th of January that the disease showed itself. The disease may possibly have escaped attention during that interval; one of the sheep may have had the disease mildly at first, and it may then have spread from animal to animal during those eight weeks. On that point it is impossible for me to pronounce any opinion; but we have desired the inspector to inquire very closely, and also to ascertain, if possible, whether the sheep came from Holland, or whether they were bought in this country.