§ MR. KETTLE (Tyrone, E.)asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he had received reports of a serious outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Pennsylvania, and whether he proposed to take any action with regard to imports of hay and straw into Ireland.
§ THE VICE-PRESIDENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR IRELAND (Mr. T. W. RUSSELL,) Tyrone, S.Yes, Sir. The intelligence of this outbreak was communicated to me by telegram to-day, and I have authorised the issue of an order to take effect on the 21st inst., prohibiting the importation of hay, straw, or fodder into Ireland from the United States.
§ MR. HICKS BEACHinquired whether the English Board of Agriculture had received the same information, and whether they proposed to take similar steps.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEYThe Board of Agriculture received information on Monday that there was an outbreak in Pennsylvania, ninety head of cattle being affected, and a subsequent telegram on the same day, saying the outbreak was on fourteen farms in four counties, affecting 230 animals, of which number, 200 had been destroyed. The Board took immediate steps, and issued an Order on the 18th inst. The effect of that Order was to prohibit the landing in Great Britain of animals, or of hay and straw if used as fodder or litter, brought from Pennsylvania as from the 21st inst., and special steps will be taken to deal with the cargoes of animals already on the high seas.