PREVENTION OF ANTHRAX BILL. (Hansard, 2 May 1919)

§ Sir H. GREENWOOD
I beg to move, That the Rill be now read a second time. This is the third Bill down for Second Reading to-day, and I hope the House will grant it that stage with the same alacrity and cordiality of support as has characterised its reception of the previous Bills. The first Bill dealing with check-weighing affected wages. The second Bill, regarding anæsthetics, dealt with the animal world. This Bill deals with the prevention of a loathsome disease in the woollen industry in different parts of this country. The Bill to which I ask the House to give a Second Reading today follows the unanimous Report of a Departmental Committee representing all interests of the tirades in wool—a Committee which sat for several years and which produced a unanimous Report, the main essentials of which are incorporated in this measure. Anthrax is a germ disease of world-wide distribution. Hoofed animals are particularly susceptible to it and infection is conveyed through skins, hides, v.col, hair and bristles to workers who come into contact with these materials. The disease usually takes one of two forms, namely, cutaneous or external anthrax caused by the virus gaining access to the system through an abrasion of the skin, and secondly, pulmonary or internal anthrax, caused by inhalation of the virus. Internal anthrax is almost invariably fatal. It is generally, or almost invariably, brought into this country by imported wool, hair or skins. Bradford, especially, has a notable record in endeavouring to fight this disease, but in spite of the precautions there has been a steady increase in reported cases of anthrax during the past twenty years in the woollen and allied trades. I would like to read two or three lines of statistics 550 to bring to the attention of the House the mortality caused. From 1896 to 1900 there were fifty-six cases; 1901–5, ninety-eight; 1905–10, 130; 1911–15, 164; and 1916–18, three years only, 198. The proportion of fatal cases was approximately 25 per cent, in each period. In the case of internal anthrax it is almost invariably fatal. The Committee, after years of deliberation and visits to various part of the country, were unanimous in recommending that the principle of compulsory disinfection of wool affected be adopted, and that principle is adopted in the Bill. A special Sub-committee investigated the possibilities of disinfection as a practical and commercial matter, and they appear to have been completely successful in having produced a process which is effective in eliminating the germ of anthrax without affecting the material itself.
The Bill contains two important provisions; first, the power to prohibit by Order in Council the importation of goods infected or likely to be infected by anthrax; and, secondly, there is power to the Secretary of State to provide and maintain the necessary works for the disinfection of infected goods and to make rules for the payment of fees by importers of the infected goods. Hon. Members will also notice that in the Bill the expenditure for carrying it into effect is restricted by the words, to such an amount as the Treasury may approve. The actual cost of setting up the first station for this essential work was estimated on a pre-war basis at £l8,000. The cost now is more likely to be between £40,000 and £50,000. As soon as the trial station is working, it is proposed to start with disinfecting East Indian goat-hair, the most dangerous of all varieties, of which between 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 pounds are imported annually. There is an interesting development in connection with this question. In so far as this infected material comes from our own Empire, we have every reason to believe that our overseas Dominions and Colonies will help in stamping out the disease. New Zealand especially, and to some extent Australia, have already stamped out the disease. We hope the others will prevent the export of any material which can carry this wretched germ to the home country. There is now being established, under the auspices, I believe, of the League of Nations, an International Health Department, to 551 which no doubt this matter will be referred. It has already been discussed in fact as an international question, for the disease is a common enemy of mankind, and it is only by international action that this and other forms of disease can be ultimately stamped out. I do not wish to weary the House with any further explanation of the Bill, which I am sure in its purpose will appeal to hon. Members' sense of justice and humanity. The Bill is part of the policy of the Government to improve the lot of the country's workers by preventing a disease that now causes acute anxiety and unrest, and too frequently death, among those who labour in our great and essential wool and allied industries.

§ Lieutenant-Colonel RAW
I would like to congratulate the Under-Secretary on introducing this very much needed measure. As a member of the medical profession. I am sure I can say that the whole profession welcomes this Bill as coming from a Government which is making a serious effort to diminish the sufferings of those who have to handle wool, especially wool which is infected. It is generally admitted that the whole of this dangerous disease is caused by wool arriving in this country which has previously been infected. The infection is conveyed to those who handle the wool. It is really more serious to those who have to convey wool on the docks and in other departments of transport It has been my unfortunate experience to have to deal with a large number of people in hospital suffering from anthrax. It is admitted that the septic forms of anthrax, after causing an intense amount of suffering, are practically always fatal. The statistics we have received to-day, showing that 25 per cent. of the cases of anthrax are fatal, refer practically entirely to the septic form. The other form of cutaneous anthrax, or wool-sorters' disease as it is commonly called, is conveyed from the infected wool to the part of the man's body which touches it, and causes malignant pustule. Everyone will welcome any steps which the Government can take to protect these workers, especially amongst wool, in Bradford and other places, from infection by this terrible scourge. At the same time, I hope that greater efforts will be made to 552 prevent wool from being infected before it arrives in this country. I know that is a difficult problem, but prevention is better than cure. If some drastic steps can be taken to disinfect wool before its shipment to this country, there would be less chance of disease among those who have to handle it. I sincerely hope that this Bill will pass and that every effort will be made by the Home Office to put it into operation, regardless of expense, because we must protect our workers who have to handle wool against the possibility of infection from such a dread disease as this. I support the Bill very cordially.

§ Sir W. WHITLA
I wish to associate myself with the congratulations to the learned Baronet. I think this is a Bill which need not entail any progressive demand upon the expenditure of the country. With the wonderful sources of research as regards the life and method of propagation of the anthrax microbe the disease of anthrax itself will be entirely stamped out. If there is any difficulty with commerce we medical men will be only too glad to help in every way possible to facilitate its progress.

§ Mr. G. THORNE
Knowing the fighting character of the hon. Baronet, I do not know whether he is quite happy amid such, absolute unanimity, but I should like to be associated in congratulating him on his very lucid and clear statement. It is a purely preventive measure in interests of health, and as such I heartily desire to join with my hon. Friends in supporting the measure.