PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. 
461 
contagious or infectious disease, the same shall be dealt 
with in accordance with the instructions from time to 
time given by the Privy Council. 
PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE. 
House of Commons— Monday, May 13. 
DISEASED SHEEP AND CATTLE. 
Mr. J. B. Smith (for Mr. Jacob Bright) asked the Vice-President 
of the Council whether, in consequence of the agricultural returns, 
which showed a great decrease in sheep and cattle, and the high 
price of meat resulting therefrom, he would reconsider the Order 
in Council of December 20th, 1871, with the view of allowing im¬ 
ported sheep to pass to the inland towns when free from disease ; 
and whether Prussia might not, in regard to horned cattle, be put 
in the same position as Spain, Holland, Norway, and Sweden. 
Mr. W. E. Forster replied that the instructions issued under 
the order in question provided for the slaughter at the port of 
landing of all sheep in case any of the cargo had the foot and 
mouth disease ; and the Government did not feel that they could 
depart from that order. (Hear, hear.) A very important deputa¬ 
tion which had waited upon him from the northern towns had com¬ 
plained of the effect of that order, stating that it caused a very large 
number of sheep to be slaughtered. He might observe that the 
total number of sheep imported had not been diminished by this 
regulation. The total import of sheep into Great Britain for the 
first quarter of the year from the Continent was about 123,000, as 
against 64,000 for the first quarter of last year. It was true that 
there had been a smaller import into the northern towns in propor¬ 
tion than there had been into London, and the reason of that was, 
that there had been much more disease amongst the sheep which 
came into the north. Only six per cent, of the ships which came 
into London had diseased animals on board, whereas in the case of 
Hull and several other of the northern towns the percentage was 
46. This was owing, he believed, to greater care being taken in 
London with regard to having ships free from infection, and also 
with regard to the selection of the animals. It was stated by the 
deputation that the inspection was more severe and stringent in the 
north than in London, but this, he believed, was not the case. He 
had ascertained that the regulations were precisely the same in 
London and the north. It had also been stated that several sheep 
had been slaughtered which had not the foot and mouth disease, 
but were merely footsore. From inquiries that had been made he 
was satisfied that that statement was without foundation. Very 
strong recommendations had been made to Government to allow 
sheep to proceed from the port of landing to inland towns under 
