§ MR. TAPLING (Leicestershire, Harborough)asked the noble Lord the Member for Lewisham, Whether his attention has been called to an outbreak of anthrax on the farm of Mr. J. Glover in the Parish of Wistow, Leicester; whether Mr. Glover was compelled, under 401 the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, to slaughter a valuable bullock without any compensation whatever; and, whether the Government can hold out any hopes of an extension of the Compensation Clauses of the Pleuro-Pneumonia Act to cases of anthrax?
§ VISCOUNT LEWISHAM (Lewisham)From the Report of the Inspector, it appears that a valuable bullock belonging to Mr. J. Glover was found dead at Wistow, and the carcase was buried at the expense of the Local Authority. None of the cattle have been slaughtered. Anthrax is quite distinct from pleuro-pneumonia, and cannot be dealt with in the same manner. Compensation is only provided when compulsory slaughter is necessary to prevent the spreading of disease. But in anthrax animals die so soon after being attacked that slaughter could very rarely be enforced; and, further, it is very desirable to avoid effusion of blood, which is always highly infective to other animals.