§ Mr. W. THORNEasked the Minister of Health if he is aware that, in consequence of thousands of carcases of mutton from Patagonian Chili being seized and condemned by the inspection authorities in the City of London on account of the disease known as Gaseous lymphadenitis, the authorities have placed an embargo on all wharves, stores, and markets within their area and refuse to pass for sale any sheep until the glands of the legs and shoulders have been incised and the carcase found immune; that the Port of London sanitary authority refuse to adopt a similar precaution; whether any action is being taken to safeguard against this disease at the ports of Avonmouth, Cardiff, Liverpool, and Manchester; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take to prevent the flooding of the country with these infected sheep?
§ Sir K. WOODYes, Sir, I understand 'that it is the practice in the City of London to examine all sheep's carcases for caseous lymphadenitis before they 513W are distributed to retailers. The Port of London Sanitary Authority have recently decided to examine for this disease a percentage of the carcases arriving at the docks, and to release the remainder to cold stores in the London area on condition that they are not removed there-from without the permission of the local medical officer of health. My right hon. Friend is making inquiries as to the practice at the ports of Avonmouth, Cardiff, Liverpool and Manchester, and he hopes it will be possible to arrange for uniform action to be taken at all ports for preventing the distribution of meat infected with this disease.