§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUsaid, he rose to put a Question to the right hon. Gentleman the Vice President of the Council, of which he had not given him notice, and if the right hon. Gentleman wished it he would postpone it till tomorrow. He wished to know if it were true that a cargo of 1,800 sheep had arrived in London from Antwerp, of which several were found when landed to be infected with sheep-pox; and also whether another cargo of between 500 and 600 sheep, also from Antwerp, had been landed at Harwich, a portion of which were also found to be infected; and, if so, what steps had been taken to prevent the spread of the infection?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, in reply, that, for the information of the noble Lord, and for the satisfaction of the House, he would answer the Question at once. It was true he yesterday received information that two cargoes of sheep had arrived, one at London, and another at Harwich, in both of which it was stated that one or two sheep were suffering from sheep-pox. Steps were immediately taken to ascertain the truth of the statement, and officers of the Customs and of the Department with which he was connected were sent to examine. With respect to Harwich, he held in his hand a Report from Professor Simons, in which it was stated that a cargo had been landed there consisting of 351 sheep, of which three were discovered to be suffering from sheep-pox. The fact was discovered not only before the sheep had left the wharf, but before they could possibly have been placed in communication with other sheep. Steps were immediately taken for the slaughter of the whole cargo, and orders were given that no more sheep should be landed at that wharf till it had been thoroughly disinfected. A telegraphic message had been sent down to Harwich to carry these orders into effect. With regard to the cargo which was brought to London the same steps had been taken. The cargo there consisted of about 1,800 sheep, twenty-two of them were suspected to be infected with the sheep-pox, and one or two of them were found to be thoroughly infected. Steps were immediately taken that the whole cargo should be slaughtered, and in this 1364 case also the order was carried into effect before it was possible that they could come in contact with other sheep. The House ought to be informed that every step had been taken in this case which would have been taken if the late Orders in Council had been still in force. Owing to the vigilance of the officers of Customs, and of the other departments, everything was done that could have been done if these Orders had been still in force—that was to say that all diseased sheep, and all the sheep that had been in communication with them, were destroyed, and orders were given that the wharves where they were landed should not be used again till they were thoroughly disinfected. He might explain to the House, as it might appear alarming that two cargoes landed at different ports were both infected, that there was reason to believe that these cargoes were sent by the same person on the Continent, and were consigned to the same parties here, and that they had been separated in the hope of their being more easily landed—a device that was quickly discovered by the authorities.
§ LORD ROBERT MONTAGUsaid, he wished to ask if the Privy Council had determined to issue any fresh general orders with regard to sheep that were imported from districts abroad that were reported to be infected?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERsaid, the matter had been under the consideration of the Privy Council, but the facts did not appear to warrant any change; nothing had happened which tended to show that the regulations now in force were insufficient.