HC Deb 13 December 1911 vol 32 cc2356-7
Mr. STANIER

asked if it was known which were the farms to which the manure from the Deptford slaughter-houses was sent; if it had ever been known to have brought disease on to those farms; and, if so, what?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The Foreign Animals Order of 1903 provides that all dung and manure shall, before being removed from a foreign animals' wharf, be disinfected to the satisfaction of an inspector of the Board. The Board are not aware to what farm, if any, manure from the Deptford Wharf has been taken; but in no case has there been any suggestion, so far as the Board are aware, that any outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was due to this source.

Mr. STANIER

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think it would be a good thing to make inquiries in this direction, seeing that so much foot-and-mouth disease has broken out in the last few years?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Yes. As the hon. Member probably knows, the fullest inquiry was made into the possible origin of the outbreaks of last year and previous years, but in no single case has there been the least suggestion that foot-and-mouth disease was traceable to this cause.

Mr. C. BATHURST

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to indicate that there is any difference between dung and manure?

Mr. C. BATHURST

asked whether the cause of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease near Yeovil had been discovered; whether any connection had been traced between it and the recent outbreak near Bridgwater; and what steps had been, and were being, taken to prevent its spreading?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

The most careful inquiries have been, and are being, made with a view to discovering the cause of the outbreaks, but so far without success. There is no evidence of any connection between this outbreak and the recent outbreak near Bridgwater. The same measures have been adopted for preventing the spread of the disease in this case as those which have been adopted with complete success in the case of the other outbreaks which have recently occurred. All the cattle, sheep, and swine on the infected farm have been slaughtered, and restrictions have been placed on the movement of stock into, out of, and within an area of approximately fifteen miles from the place where the disease appeared.

Mr. STANIER

On these farms is the dung or manure, whichever the right hon. Gentleman calls it, burnt?

Mr. RUNCIMAN

Yes. Any dung or manure which can by any possibility be infected, is burnt.