§ MR. CRIPPS (Lancashire, Stretford)To ask the hon. Member for North Huntingdonshire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been directed to the circumstances attending a recent outbreak of anthrax at Levenshulme, which resulted in the death of the owner of the affected animal, and the serious illness of the butcher by whom it was: dressed; and what steps, if any, have been, or can be, taken to prevent any such occurrence in the future.
(Answered by Mr. Ailwyn Fellowes.) The lamentable circumstances to which my hon. friend refers were brought under our notice, and a special inquiry was at once instituted with respect to them. The serious results, not only to animal but to human life which attend the slaughter in the ordinary way, and the dressing of the carcases of animals infected with anthrax, are well known to us, and we have distributed upwards of 360,000 copies of a leaflet calling attention to the danger. We have also addressed circular letters on the subject to the various local authorities. We propose now to issue a further special notice to stockowners cautioning them against the dressing of the carcases of animals which have died suddenly until the cause of death has been ascertained. This notice will be issued to local authorities for posting on walls, and for direct distribution to farmers and others concerned.