HC Deb 08 November 1912 vol 43 cc1609-10W
Mr. LYNCH

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the source of the seed lymph used for obtaining supplies of vaccine at the National Vaccine Institute, Sandymount Green; and whether special precautions are adopted to prevent the introduction from abroad of seed lymph containing the virus of infectious diseases, such as rinderpest or foot-and-mouth disease?

Mr. BIRRELL

The seed lymph used in the National Vaccine Institute is only obtained at long intervals from the Imperial German Vaccine Laboratories in Berlin, which are under the control of the Imperial German Public Health Office, and the operations of which are conducted with the strictest regard to modern public health requirements. The lymph so obtained is passed through a series of calves and is then subjected to the severest possible test as regards the diseases mention in the question. No disease save vaccinia has ever been produced by the inoculation of the lymph, and additional precautions would therefore appear to be unnecessary.

Mr. LYNCH

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether special precautions are taken to prevent the introduction into this country from abroad of lymph containing the virus of rinderpest or of foot-and-mouth disease?

Mr. BURNS

The precautions taken at the Government lymph establishment in regard to the use of imported lymph are of a most stringent character.