§ MR. ARCHDALEI beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state the estimated amount of loss to British and Irish farmers by the last outbreak of foot and mouth disease due to importation of cattle from abroad, and the decrease in numbers in consequence of that outbreak.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. HANBURY, Preston)I understand my hon. friend to refer to the epidemic of foot and mouth disease in Great Britain which lasted from 1880 to 1884, when it was practically stamped out. During that period some 336,000 cattle, 370,000 sheep, and 37,000 swine were reported as having been attacked with the disease, and it was estimated that the direct loss caused to stockowners could not have been less than £2,500,000.