§ SIR WALTER B. BARTTELOTasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been called to the very serious and widespread outbreak of cattle plague in the Baltic provinces of Russia; and, whether every precaution has been taken against the possibility of its importation into this Country?
§ MR. MUNDELLASir, no reports have been received of an unusual prevalence of cattle plague (rinderpest) in the Baltic Provinces of Russia. The disease has a constant existence in Russia, and, consequently, the importation of animals from that country is entirely prohibited. The importation of cattle from Germany and Belgium is also prohibited. Siberian plague, which is a form of anthrax, and quite distinct from Cattle Plague, is now prevalent in the Provinces of Novgorod, St. Petersburg, Dorpat, and Riga; but, considering that no animals can be introduced into this country from Russia, and no cattle from Germany and Belgium, there appears little or no probability of the introduction of any contagious cattle disease from Russia into this country.