§ 4. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in the opinion of his expert advisers, the disinfectant commercially known as lysol or beta-lysol has been proved to be effective as an agent for the destruction of the germs of anthrax and foot-and-mouth disease in animal skins and hides; and, if so, whether the Board will press for the treatment with it of such articles prior to their shipment from abroad to this country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am advised that the disinfectant referred to, like many others of the same class, is capable of destroying the virus of foot-and-mouth disease, but that disinfectants of that class cannot be relied upon to destroy the spores of anthrax. I am not prepared at present to follow the suggestion made in the latter part of the question.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman able to say whether any disinfectant has ever been discovered which will destroy the spores of anthrax?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI would ask for notice of that quesiton.