§ Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Agriculture the name of the vaccine produced in this country that is under trial in the Argentine with a view to rendering cattle immune from foot-and-mouth disease; and by whom the vaccine is being produced in this country.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsSmall quantities only of the vaccine, which for convenience has been called foot-and-mouth disease (crystal violet) vaccine, have been produced in this country. It is produced at the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Research Station at Pirbright solely for experimental purposes and is prepared by treating with crystal violet dye blood from affected animals. Advice as to its method of preparation has been given to the Argentine authorities.
§ Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is able to give any information about the experiments with anti-foot-and-mouth vaccine conducted, in September and October, 1943, at La Salamanca, Alberdi; how many animals were vaccinated; how many of those vaccinated subsequently caught foot-and-mouth disease; and how many unvaccinated animals in this establishment suffered from foot-and-mouth disease.
§ Mr. T. WilliamsI have no information at all about the experiments carried out at La Salamanca except that I have heard that some private trials with a vaccine prepared by Dr. W. M. Crofton were undertaken in 1943 and at other times in various herds in Alberdi and elsewhere in South America. So far as I am aware there is no reason, either as a result of the trials or otherwise, for re-opening the long standing and fully considered question of Dr. Crofton's claims for his vaccine.