HC Deb 11 March 1902 vol 104 cc1017-8
SIR EDWARD STRACHEY (Somersetshire, S.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board of Agriculture will direct the local inspector, in all cases where he is doubtful as to the existence of swine fever, to await a visit to the premises by a veterinary inspector of the Board, and his report on the case, before serving on the occupier a declaration making the premises a swine fever infected place; and in view of the fact that it is the practice of the Board, when their veterinary inspector has reported to the Board that the suspected outbreak of swine fever is a false alarm, not to send either such inspector or the local inspector to visit the premises again before declaring them free from swine fever, whether he can state how the Board knows when the premises may with reasonable safety be declared free; and will he explain what advantage or protection is gained by having a period of probation after the veterinary inspector has reported the non-existence of the disease.

MR. HANBURY

The first suggestion by my hon. friend would, I fear, it carried into practice, cause mischievous delay in isolating the premises and in taking the other necessary measures of precaution. The veterinary inspector mentioned in the question is often the local veterinary surgeon, and the external symptoms of the disease are so uncertain that it is quite possible that the animals actually slaughtered and examined may not be those most affected by the disease, or may even not be affected at all. The fortnight's probation is necessary to guard against this danger.