IMPORTATION OF DISEASED SHEEP. 
449 
received information that the disease had appeared extensively, 
and in an aggravated form, in the Eastern counties. He had been 
in communication with the Board of Customs, and had been in- 
formed that since October last, although there had been a strict 
system of examination with regard to all the cattle and sheep 
imported, only one case of a diseased animal had been found, and 
that had been imported from Hamburgh last Saturday (July 8). 
That that had been immediately destroyed. He could assure the 
hon. member that the attention of the Custom House officers, par- 
ticularly at the Eastern ports, had been directed to the subject ; 
and orders given, not only that all diseased animals should be 
destroyed, but that flocks of which they formed a part should 
remain in quarantine for a certain number of days. 
Mr. W. Milnes asked who inspected the cargoes ? — because, 
if the inspection was left to the Custom House officers, it would be 
of little use. As the disease was of a most fatal character, and 
likely to spread over the country when once introduced, he hoped 
the Government would take means to have a proper system of 
inspection instituted. 
Mr. LABOUCHERE believed that skilful veterinary surgeons were 
employed as inspectors; at least, such was the case at the port 
of London, and he believed it was so at all the other ports. 
Mr. Henley inquired whether the House were to understand 
that all the sheep that arrived were inspected by a veterinary 
surgeon. 
Mr. Wodehouse asked, whether the Government would have 
any objection to lay the papers connected with this subject on the 
table. 
Mr. LABOUCHERE said there would be no objection. 
Times , July 14, 1848. 
In the House of Lords ( June \$lh). 
The Duke of Richmond begged to call the attention of 
Government to the fact, that diseased sheep had within the last 
twelve months been imported from the continent. The introduc- 
tion of foreign sheep into this country was the effect of the tariff of 
1844 ; the only excuse pleaded for which was, that the people 
of England ought to have their mutton cheaper, for cheapness was 
everything at the present day. Those sheep brought with them 
disease, which would destroy more English sheep than the num- 
ber of foreign sheep imported. Very unwholesome food was 
thereby afforded to the country ; and the Government were bound 
to do their utmost to ascertain the circumstances under which the 
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