HC Deb 27 June 1893 vol 14 cc146-7
MR. HOPWOOD (Lancashire, S.E., Middleton)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, on the 9th June, at Bradford Borough Court, a slaughterer was fined for having in his possession, for the purpose of preparation for human food, the carcase of a calf suffering from tuberculosis, and therefore unfit for food; whether he is aware that the calf in question had been received from Dr. Hime, of Bradford, who provides and purveys calf vaccine or lymph to the public; whether, in view of the danger of human infection with tuberculosis by such means, he recommends the use of calf vaccine; and whether he will take measures to prevent the manufacture and supply of calf lymph from other sources than the Government depôt?

THE SECRETARY TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Sir W. FOSTER, Derby, Ilkeston)

I have no information as to the prosecution at the Bradford Borough Court respecting the calf which is alleged to have been suffering from tuberculosis, but I have received a communication from Dr. Hime, of Bradford, in which he states that no vaccine taken from the calf has been used for vaccination. The whole subject of lymph supplies is, as my hon. Friend is aware, before the Royal Commission on Vaccination. The Local Government Board have no power to prevent the production and supply of calf lymph from other sources than the Government depot, and it is not proposed to suggest any change in the law in this respect pending the Report of the Royal Commission on Vaccination.

MR. HOPWOOD

Will not the hon. Member get some information as to what occurred at the Bradford Police Court. It is quite open to his Department to do that. Do I understand he proposes to make no inquiry?

DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that, in order to make sure that no lymph from a diseased calf is distributed for vaccination, Dr. Hime has all the calves employed by him for the production of lymph slaughtered before the lymph is used, and is it not a matter of fact that not a particle of lymph taken from this calf was used?

SIR W. FOSTER

This was a private prosecution, which did not implicate Government officials; but I will make inquiries as the hon. Member suggests. I believe that Dr. Hime has for some time been in the habit of having all animals slaughtered before any lymph taken from them is used for vaccination, and that he has done this in order to secure the public against all possible risk.