§ MR. MCKENNAI beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can state the number of recorded cases of rabies which have occurred amongst sporting dogs in any or all of the years 1887 to 1897, inclusive?
THE PRHSIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTUREThere is no record, nor have the officers of my Department, ever heard of any case in which a sporting dog has been found to be rabid or known to have been capable of conveying infection while been used for sporting purposes and exempt from the requirements of Muzzling Orders imposed during the period to which the hon. Member refers.
§ MR. MCKENNAAm I to understand that the Board of Agriculture have no knowledge of any case of rabies breaking out in the kennels of fox or greyhounds?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTUREI did not say that, Sir. I said no case had been discovered in sporting dogs when being used for sporting purposes, this being the only time when the exemption applies.
§ MR. MCKENNADoes the right hon. Gentleman mean while sporting dogs are being used for sporting purposes only?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTUREI mean exactly what I said.