TUBERCULOSIS 37 



On 3rd April a deputation, supported by other Agricultura 

 Societies, waited on the President of the Board to again urge 

 the slaughter of all imported animals except in special cases. 

 Mr. Gardner held out no hope of being able to advise Parlia- 

 ment to agree to this proposal. 



In November the Council urged all agriculturists and 

 local authorities to co-operate with the Board in their endea- 

 vour to stamp out Swine Fever. They also expressed approval 

 of the action taken by the Board in connection with an out- 

 break of Foot and Mouth Disease in Essex. 



An Act consolidating all previous Contagious Diseases 

 Acts was passed this year. 



1895. 



On 28th May the Council unanimously adopted a Report 

 from their -Cattle Diseases Committee which dealt with the 

 Report of the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis. They 

 suggested that inquiry should be made as to the extent to 

 which tuberculous meat was imported, and expressed the 

 opinion that no tuberculous animals should be used for 

 breeding purposes. They concluded their comments as 

 follows : 



" While recognising that the labours of the Commission have 

 resulted in valuable information, are of opinion that the subject 

 of tuberculosis needs to be regarded not less from the point of 

 view of the stockowner than from that of the meat or milk con- 

 sumer. It is not reasonable that the loss of a beast condemned and 

 destroyed in the interests of the public health should fall upon the 

 owner, unless it can be shown that he had been guilty knowingly 

 of keeping and selling diseased animals. A Departmental Com- 

 mittee appointed in 1888 to consider, among other matters, the 

 best method of dealing with tuberculosis with a view of checking 

 the progress of the disease, recommended that tuberculosis 

 ' should be included in the diseases in the Contagious Diseases 

 (Animals) Acts, so as to provide for the slaughter of diseased 

 animals when found on the owner's premises, for the payment of 

 compensation for the slaughter of such animals, for the seizure 

 and slaughter of diseased animals exposed in fairs, markets, &c., 

 and during transit, and for the seizing and slaughter of diseased 

 foreign animals at the place of landing in this country.' The 

 report of the Royal Commission shows no cause for receding 

 from the position then taken up by the Departmental Com- 

 mittee, and this Committee recommend that the Government be 



