§ MR. BIRKBECKasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Whether his attention has been called to the fact of a large arrival of live stock having taken place at Liverpool, per Ontario, from Portland, Maine, a portion of which were affected with foot and mouth disease; and, whether he will prohibit the importation of live animals from Maine and all adjacent ports?
§ MR. DODSONI will answer this Question, as well as a subsequent one in the name of the bon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Guy Dawnay). The facts are briefly these. We received a telegram on February 19, stating that some Here-fords, conveyed by the Ontario from Liverpool and landed at Portland on February 2nd, had developed foot-and-mouth disease a day or two after their arrival there, and that the Ontario had left Portland with cattle and sheep for Liverpool on February 9. We immediately telegraphed to our Inspector at Liverpool to be prepared. The Ontario arrived at Liverpool on Friday, February 22nd, with 275 cattle and 639 sheep on board; they were landed at the Foreign Animals' Wharf, Woodville, Birkenhead, and 131 cattle and seven sheep were found to be affected. The whole cargo was slaughtered without delay, and every precaution taken to prevent the escape of infection from the wharf. Further, as we had reason to believe that the places of detention or of embarkation at Portland might be infected, we issued, as a measure of precaution, 74 an order suspending the landing of animals shipped at that port from the 27th instant to March 12th. Directions were also given to prevent the Ontario from carrying animals for some time, and we have received a letter from the managing Director of the Company to which the vessel belongs, stating that the vessel will be properly disinfected under the advice and inspection of our Inspector.