Mr. Alderman Woodmoved for leave to bring in a Bill to prevent the spreading of Canine Madness. The hon. Gentleman said, his former bill upon the same subject, at the recommendation of the right hon. Secretary for the Home Department, had been referred to a Committee above-stairs, and as his present Bill was framed on the evidence given before that Committee, he supposed that it would meet with no opposition at that stage. Hon. Members were aware of the great extent to which this alarming malady had 246 prevailed during the greater part of last summer, and of the general panic consequent thereupon. That there was good and sufficient cause for apprehension could not be disputed, when it was remembered that not less than 400 rabid cases had occurred within a very brief space of time, and that eighty cases had come to the knowledge of a single individual. The worthy Alderman then recommended that the dogs of the metropolis should be generally provided with collars, and (as we understood him) that all persons who were bitten should be entitled, by way of compensation, to levy a fine of 10l. on the owner of the dog, especially if ascertained to be rabid. He concluded by moving for leave, according to previous notice.
§ Mr. G. Lamb, as a member of the Committee alluded to, greatly feared that it would be found extremely difficult to comply with the provisions of such a Bill, without causing a great deal of vexation to all owners of dogs throughout the metropolis. The best preventive remedy of the evil complained of would, in his opinion, be found in the gradual reduction of all stray street dogs, which had already been partially effected by the police.
§ Leave given.