§ 57. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the investigation into the nature, origin, and mode of communication of foot-and-mouth disease which was instituted by the Board in India two years ago has been completed; if so, when it was completed; and whether and when the results of such investigation will be published by the Board?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Herbert Lewis)The Report is nearly ready for the Press, and will probably be issued in a few weeks' time.
§ 58. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked what steps, if any, are taken by the Board on the occasion of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease to ascertain by bacteriological examination, culture, and experiment, or otherwise, the presence of germs of the disease in fodder, hides, bones, and other animal offals found upon the infected premises and proved to have been imported from foreign countries where the disease is prevalent?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISWhen an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurs in this country, no steps of the kind suggested in the question are taken by the Board, on account of the risk of spreading the infection. In this connection perhaps I may refer the hon. Member to the answers of Sir Stewart Stockman on pages 34 and 36 of Minutes of Evidence taken before the Departmental Committee which reported two years ago.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTDoes it not necessarily follow that it is wholly impossible in every case to trace the cause of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease?
§ Mr. HERBERT LEWISThe procedure suggested by the hon. Member has been found in practice impossible of adoption in this country owing to the reasons to which I have referred.