MR. DAWNAYasked the Vice President of the Council, Whether his attention has been drawn to the serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the North Riding of Yorkshire during the past month, and to the fact that the disease has in all cases broken out amongst cattle and swine imported direct from Ireland, and purchased at the York fortnightly markets; and, whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to ascertaining at what point on the route from Ireland the infection may have been contracted, and taking steps to prevent the further spread of the disease?
§ MR. MUNDELLAI am assured that there has been nothing unusual in the 459 character or extent of the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the North Riding. The number of outbreaks during the present year is nine. In most cases they have been traced to cattle brought from York Market. As Irish cattle, after landing, are treated the same as English and Scotch cattle, and taken to all the large markets in the ordinary course of trade, it is impossible to discover where the animals in question became infected. We are, however, quite satisfied the disease was not imported from Ireland, that country having been free from it for the past two years.