§ MR. BARCLAY (Forfarshire)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has any recent Reports as to the health of the cattle from the United States slaughtered at the ports of debarkation; and if he will take measures to have in future a regular inspection of the carcasses of such animals, as providing some indication of the health of cattle in the United States?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordSince the beginning of the present year 41,000 animals have been landed at Deptford and 40,000 at Liverpool from the United States. During that period five cargoes were found containing animals affected with pleuro-pneumonia. Three of these cargoes were landed at Deptford on February 21, March 23, and March 25, and two at Liverpool on March 29. They were shipped at the ports of Baltimore, Boston, and New York. Having regard to these facts, it would appear to be unnecessary to undertake the trouble and expense of a post-mortem examination of each carcass in order to ascertain the existence of disease which is already known to exist. But the Board will always be careful that a sufficient inspection will be made at the ports to indicate the condition of the animals coming from America.