FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE. (Hansard, 9 March 1925)

§ 38. Mr. HURD
asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he has received evidence from Switzerland as to the effects there of the Shaw remedy for foot-and-mouth disease; and when this remedy is to he tested by his Department?

Mr. WOOD
The reply to the first part is in the negative. With regard to the second part, I hope it may be possible to carry out a test of Dr. Shaw's remedy in the near future.

§ Mr. HURD
In that event, will Dr. Shaw be given an opportunity of being present, seeing that this is his remedy

Mr. WOOD
I would rather not answer without notice. In any cage, I propose to have the remedy tested in the presence of a committee or representation of impartial persons.

§ Sir JAMES REMNANT
In the event of Dr. John Shaw refusing to hand over his remedy unless he is satisfied that he can be present when the official test is made, how can the test be carried out?

Mr. WOOD
I understand that there is no difficulty about obtaining material for the test.

§ Sir J. REMNANT
In view of the fact that Dr. Shaw has told me that he has not given any samples of his remedy to any official of the Ministry of Agriculture, is that treating fairly or properly the man who claims to have discovered a remedy?

Mr. WOOD
It is rather a difficult subject to argue by question and answer, without full time to develop our respective points of view on each side. If my hon. Friend thinks that Dr. Shaw is being treated unfairly, and will afford me an opportunity of a little conversation, I think I can satisfy him that that is not the case. I hope my hon. Friend will give me that opportunity.

§ 42. Lord COLUM CRICHTON-STUART
asked the Minister of Agriculture if he can make a statement concerning the cause of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease near Northwich?

Mr. WOOD
Careful inquiries have been made from the first as to the means by which infection was brought to these premises, but I regret to say that as yet no explanation can be found.

§ 14. Mr. STEPHEN MITCHELL
asked the Minister of Agriculture the number of horses, cattle, and sheep which were destroyed by order of the authorities during the epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease in the years 1923 and 1924: and the total sum paid in compensation to the owners?

Mr. WOOD
111,993 cattle, and 54,532 sheep were slaughtered in connection with foot-and-mouth disease during 1923 and 1924. Horses are not slaughtered for the purposes of the measures against this disease. The total compensation paid to the owners of the cattle and sheep was £3,326,942.

§ 48. Mr. MITCHELL
urther asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the great loss the nation sustains from time to time through epidemics of foot-and-mouth disease, he will consider the question of recommending that larger sums be granted to veterinary colleges for the purpose of research; and whether, in order to widen the field of operation so that investigations may be made on more varied lines, he will consider the desirability of making grants to a larger number of veterinary institutions?

Mr. WOOD
The method by which research should be conducted was considered when the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Scientific Committee was set up in March last. It was decided that the problem should be attacked upon a co-ordinated plan and that the resources of existing research institutions in this country should as far as possible be utilised. This is the course followed by the Committee, of which the directors of the four principal veterinary research institutions are members. The funds available for the work of the Committee are at present ample, and will permit of considerable expansion as the investigation proceeds.