§ MR. HAYES FISHER (Fulham)To ask the Secretary of State for War what steps he has taken to prevent civilian horses, requisitioned for manœuvres, coming into contact with occult cases of epizootic lymphangitis, as the continued existence of the disease is causing anxiety to civilian horse owners; also what steps he has taken to prevent occult cases of the disease being transferred from one station to another, and of coming into contact with horses in other regiments free of disease during manœuvres; and if he has now decided to slaughter all horses still suffering from the disease, especially as such a small percentage of attacked horses recovered, while such a large percentage have been slaughtered.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Arnold-Forster.) As regards the first part of the Question, no horses liable to be affected will be taken on manœuvres; therefore the possibility of conveying the disease to civilian horses is remote, especially as steps will be taken to keep the latter away from contact with military horses. As regards the second part of the Question, careful veterinary inspection is made of all horses removing or being received at either station within six months of cases occurring. As regards the third 228 part of the Question, the majority of horses suffering from the disease are slaughtered, but it is not considered necessary to destroy those cases which show probability of recovery, and for which facilities of complete isolation and treatment exist.