PARLIAMENTARY INTELLIGENCE, 591 
market, which was the Board of Works, stated, through their 
inspector, that they could not ascertain that the statement was 
correct. He was inclined to believe they were right in their 
opinion. With regard to the Norwich case he was glad to find 
the authorities there were determined to put the Act in force. 
It was not the duty of the department but of the local authority 
to put the Act in force. In the metropolis they were endeavouring 
to do it to the utmost of their power, and since the 1st of January 
359 cattle had been seized and slaughtered. The hon. gentleman 
asked him to reconsider the expediency of maintaining the present 
regulations under which the district authority rigorously enforces 
the penalties under the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, while 
the foot-and-mouth disease, as well as sheep scab, existed in the 
metropolitan market, and was from thence taken to all parts of 
the kingdom. The regulations in the Act he was bound to en¬ 
force, and he believed there was a very general desire in all parts 
of England to enforce them and to stamp out the disease, when¬ 
ever it was found out. But any attempt to do so by renewing 
the cordon would, he believed, meet with strong opposition. He 
trusted the local authorities would put the Act in force to stop the 
exposure of animals having the foot-and-mouth disease, to pre¬ 
vent the movement of such animals, and especially to disinfect 
the markets where they had been. 
Mr. Head, in consequence of the unsatisfactory answer he had 
received, begged to give notice that early next Session he would 
move for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into 
the operation of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, and 
the constitution of the Veterinary Department of the Privy 
Council. (Hear, hear.) 
Mr. Bernal Osborne appealed to the Speaker whether the right 
hon. gentleman had not introduced new matter in his reply. 
The Speaker said he had not discovered that the right hon. 
gentleman was at all out of order in the reply he had given to the 
question. (Hear, hear.) 
Mr. Osborne .—It was so enormously long. (A laugh.) 
THE CATTLE PLAGUE. 
Friday, July 19 th . 
Sir H. Selwin-lbbetson said there was a report that there 
had been a case of cattle plague at Deptford, and wished to know 
from the Vice-President of the Council whether the report was 
correct. He should also like to hear from the right hon. gentle¬ 
man whether any steps were being taken to prevent the intro¬ 
duction of the disease from foreign ports. 
XLV. 
40 
