§ 30. Mr. WILLIAM NICHOLSONasked the Minister of Agriculture whether in any of the cases of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease the source of the infection has been traced; and, if so, to what cause?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Major Elliot)I regret that inquiries into the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Lincolnshire and Leicestershire have failed to establish the source of infection in either case.
31. Mr. PRICEasked the Minister of Agriculture, having regard to the danger to the live stock of farmers, if any steps have been taken to destroy foxes in that part of the Midlands where there has been an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease?
§ Major ELLIOTNo, Sir. Foxes are not susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease, and though foxes—like other non-susceptible animals, birds, vermin or even human beings—might possibly carry infection mechanically, it has never been established that the disease has been spread through them.