RefNo | NLB/13/581 |
AltRefNo | NLB/13 p349-353 |
Level | Item |
Title | Copy letter from Michael Foster, to the Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office, S.W. |
Date | 12 October 1896 |
Description | In reply to the Under Secretary's letters of 25 September, 19466, and 2 October, 20316, relating to a proposed enquiry into the Rinderpest in South Africa, Foster is instructed to state the following reply.
Regarding the suggestion contained in Lord Rosmead's telegram of 30th September, the President and Council think it would not be desirable to approach the German and French Governments to share the investigation as the material interests of these nations in the matter are very small compared to those of England. Appealing to these Governments would cause delay and it has always been found difficult to carry out international cooperation in a special enquiry of this character.
The President and Council think the best action would be to send an eminently qualified pathologist, assistant pathologist, and skilled laboratory assistant. Foster briefly discusses honorarium's for each based on an enquiry of about nine months, and based on the assumption that the observers sent from England will meet with the cordial co-operation of Mr D Hutcheon, Veterinary Advisor to the Government at Cape Colony and that the resources of the Bacteriological Institute at the Cape Colony will be placed at their disposal. It is also supposed that the passages to and from the Cape and the necessary expenditures incurred locally will be paid for by the Colonial Government.
Dr [Alfredo Antunes] Kanthack of St Bartholomew's Hospital is prepared to accept the post of Pathologist, and Mr Stevenson of the same hospital would accept the post of Assistant Pathologist. The President and Council think both eminently qualified and both are prepared to leave England with about three weeks notice. The enquiry should begin as soon as possible.
Rinderpest is not confined to the Cape Colony. There is reason to believe that the hides of diseased animals are being imported from the Cape to the mother Country and until the contrary has been proved, the presumption is that the disease thus may be carried to Britain. |
Extent | 5p |
Format | Carbon |
AccessStatus | Open |
Fellows associated with this archive
Code | PersonName | Dates |
NA8220 | Foster; Sir; Michael (1836 - 1907); physiologist | 1836 - 1907 |