HC Deb 29 November 1867 vol 190 cc419-20
MR. M'LAGAN

asked the Vice President of the Committee of Council, Whether he has received any official Report of an outbreak of disease among cattle in Berwickshire, said to be Rinderpest; and, if so, whether he has any objections to state the substance of that Report, and whether the Privy Council intend to take any steps in the matter?

LORD ROBERT MONTAGU

said, that the Reports received on the subject were rather conflicting. On the 18th instant, information was received from the local inspector stating that cattle plague existed at Langrigg, near Dunse, in Berwickshire, and that the place had been provisionally declared to be infected. Particulars were at once telegraphed for, and late in the evening of the 20th another communication was received from the local inspector to the effect that of a herd of thirty beasts five were dead and the rest in good health. On a consideration of all the particulars, the Government Inspectors arrived at the conclusion that the disease was not cattle plague; but, at the same time, it was thought proper to send down by telegraph permission to the local authorities to disinter the carcasses of the animals, in order that they might be inspected by Edinburgh veterinary surgeons. The local authorities, however, seem to have come to the decision that the disease was not cattle plague, and the bodies were not disinterred. On the 22nd, late in the evening, another telegram was received, announcing that another case had occurred. Professor Simonds was at once sent down to examine the bodies of the animals; and after having examined four of the carcasses he telegraped on the 25th, confirming the opinion which he had pre- viously expressed as to the disease not being cattle plague. Another telegram confirmatory of that opinion was received from Professor Simonds on the following day, and on the 28th he handed in this Report— I am of opinion that the animals are not the subjects of plague, but of the disease known as gastro-enteritis, or enteric fever. This disease owes its origin to common causes, not to special or specific ones, as the cattle plague; and such causes, I consider, have been in full operation in the present instance. He felt confident, therefore, that the disease was not cattle plague.