§ MR. MILDMAY (Devon, Totnes)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been drawn to the prevalence of a parasitic skin disease, of an infectious nature, amongst the ponies grazing on certain parts of the Forest of Dartmoor; and whether he will take any precautions to prevent the further spread of a disease which is already causing great loss and expense to pony-keepers in those parts?
§ MR. H. GARDNERThe attention of my Department had not previously been directed to this matter, but the inquiries I have made suggest that the disease is similar to that reported from 468 West Cornwall last year. In that case a special Order was issued giving the Local Authorities certain powers with respect to animals affected with the disease, and I shall be happy to communicate with the Local Authorities for Devonshire with a view to ascertain whether it would be desirable that a similar course should be pursued in the present instance.