§ 21. Mr. PERKINSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his Department are still investigating foot-and-mouth disease; whether any results have been achieved during the past two years; and whether the policy of inoculation has been a success?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE and FISHERIES (Major Elliot)Yes, Sir, the Foot and Mouth Disease Research Committee appointed in 1924 is still actively at work. During the last two years the committee has investigated, amongst other matters, questions of immunity, the susceptibility of small rodents, the identification of "carriers," the comparative value of virus of various strains and of the different methods of sterilising animal products. This work has contributed materially to our knowledge of the disease. It is not yet possible to come to any definite conclusion concerning preventive treatment by inoculation, which is still in the experimental stage.