§ SIR JERVOISE JERVOISEsaid, he wished to ask the Vice President of the Committee of Council on Education, If his attention has been called to the statement that the Cattle Plague has lately been spreading in one or two counties; that in the West of England a flock of 450 sheep have been slaughtered by order of the Local Committee; that thirty-eight head of cattle were slaughtered by order of Professor Simonds; that in Staffordshire a fresh outbreak is reported, and forty-four animals slaughtered as a precautionary measure; and whether he has observed that great doubt is thrown on the origin of the disease, and on the beneficial effect obtained, or to be expected, from attempts to stamp it out at a great sacrifice of property?
MR. CORRYThere has, Sir, been 1664 unfortunately a fresh outbreak of the cattle disease, affecting sheep also on two contiguous farms in Somersetshire. Previous to the report of Professor Simonds, who had been sent down to inquire into the subject, forty-seven cattle and 171 sheep had either been slaughtered or had died. After the receipt of his report the local authorities had properly ordered the whole of the remaining stock on the two farms to be slaughtered. I am happy to say that in general the disease, so far from spreading, is on the decrease, and that during the last week the number of attacks in England and Wales was the smallest recorded since the first Returns. No information has been received of any fresh outbreak of the disease in Staffordshire to any considerable extent. With regard to the last part of the Question of the hon. Baronet, doubts might exist as to the origin of the disease; but from whatever cause it originated there is not the slightest doubt, in the opinion of the most competent authorities, that the disease is communicable in the highest degree from sick to healthy animals.