HC Deb 09 April 1900 vol 81 cc1523-4
MR. PATRICK O'BRIEN

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can give the number of animals suffering from foot and mouth disease that came from Argentina, that were recently seized and slaughtered at Deptford; and whether that meat was allowed to be distributed for sale, or destroyed as unfit for human food.

*THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. LONG,) Liverpool, West Derby

One hundred and fifty-four head of cattle were certified to be affected with foot and mouth disease out of the 244 brought to Deptford from Buenos Ayres by the "Ethelhilda." The examination of carcases from the point of view of their fitness for human food does not rest with my Department, but I understand that the meat of animals affected with foot and mouth disease is not as a consequence rendered unfit for human consumption, and that in the case in question none of the carcases were condemned by the sanitary authorities.