HC Deb 25 March 1887 vol 312 cc1467-9
DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with reference to the various reported outbreaks of cattle anthrax, Whether any steps have been taken to warn Local Authorities of the danger of establishing permanent centers of infection, by the burial of carcasses of animals suffering from that disease?

THE CHANCELLOR OF THE DUCHY (Lord JOHN MANNERS) (Leicestershire, E.)

The Anthrax Order of 1886 provides for the destruction of carcasses of animals dead of anthrax by exposure to a high temperature or by chemical agents, and some Local Authorities, in districts where the necessary appliances exist, have been authorized to adopt such modes of destruction instead of burial. In reference to burial, which in many parts of the country is the only available method of disposing of carcasses, Local Authorities have been warned that the carcasses should be buried entire and be well covered with lime. There is reason to believe that when carcasses are so buried as to exclude the air the infection does not continue for any great length of time.

DR. CAMERON

asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether the attention of his Department has been called to the numerous outbreaks of cattle anthrax recently reported; and, whether he proposes to take any measures, by way of warning or otherwise, to guard against the danger of disease being communicated to human beings?

THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)

The danger of anthrax being communicated to human beings is one almost exclusively incurred by those who have to deal with the hides or opened bodies of infected animals; and obedience to the Order of the Privy Council of September 16, 1886, as to dealing with such animals and their carcasses, will practically got rid of that danger. No other measure is regarded as called for. I may add that the Report of the Medical Officer of the Board for 1882 contains a Memo- raudum which was prepared in order to give the means of recognizing anthrax as it affects people dealing with hides; and this Memorandum may be useful as guarding against error in diagnosis in districts whore actual anthrax has appeared.