§ MR. FELLOWES (Hants, Ramsey)I wish to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture if it is a fact that on or about February 18 the veterinary adviser of the Board of Agriculture inspected some animals on a farm near Hastings and decided that they were suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, and whether the same animals are still alive?
§ MR. GARDNERYes, Sir, the facts are as stated in the question. I may add that it frequently happens that the slaughter of animals affected with foot-and-mouth disease is attended with greater risk of spreading the disease than the keeping of them alive under strict observation and in perfect isolation. I came to the conclusion that this would have been the case in the present instance.
§ MR. CHAPLIN (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman's remark does not apply to a strictly limited number of cases? I will also ask what steps have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease, and whether the Board are able in any way to account for the origin of the outbreak?
§ MR. GARDNERIt has not been the uniform practice of the Board to slaughter and compensate in all cases of foot-and-mouth disease. We have no information at the present moment as to the origin of this outbreak. Every precaution possible to be taken has been taken on this occasion, and we have great hopes of being able to prevent the disease from spreading.
§ SIR R. PAGET (Somerset, Wells)Are we to understand from that reply it is the opinion of the Board of Agriculture that it would be a greater danger to the country to slaughter these animals than to keep them alive?
§ MR. GARDNERUnder certain circumstances. In this instance the animals are strictly isolated, and there would be a greater danger to the surrounding country through the slaughterer carrying the disease away from the building than there would be from keeping the animals alive.
§ SIR R. PAGETHow does it occur that there is a greater danger attending the entrance of the slaughterer than of the Veterinary Inspector of the Board of Agriculture?
§ MR. GARDNERThose who go to these buildings at the present moment are strictly limited, and no one is allowed to enter except in special dress.
§ SIR R. PAGETCould the slaughterer not wear that dress?
§ [No answer was given.]
MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)Is it not the case that a further outbreak took place on the premises referred to, subsequent to the visit of the Inspector?
§ MR. GARDNERIt is perfectly true that there were animals on the premises which subsequently became affected.
§ MR. GARDNERNo; in the same yard.
§ MR. FELLOWESMay I ask whether the time of year is not approaching when it is absolutely necessary that the farmers should have open markets, and whether, therefore, when an outbreak occurs the right hon. Gentleman will order the immediate slaughter of the animals?
§ MR. GARDNERThe order for immediate slaughter has nothing to do with the opening of the markets.