§ MR. BROOKE ROBINSONI beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that an impression prevails in Dudley and the surrounding districts that the Muzzling Order still exists in those localities in consequence of a suspected case of rabies near Birmingham; and whether the suspected case was one that occurred about 12th March; and, if so, whether, as Professor Macfadyean has within the last few days reported to the Board of Agriculture that his investigations have proved it not to be a case of rabies, but another disease altogether, the Muzzling Order will be now withdrawn from these localities?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURESome misapprehension evidently prevails with regard to this matter. The retention of the Muzzling Order in the district of which Birmingham is the centre is due to the occurrence of a serious case of rabies in that city on the 30th March last, as to the character of which no doubt exists either on the part of the local veterinary inspector or of our own veterinary officers. The case to which my honourable Friend refers is probably one reported from King's Norton on the 12th March, which our veterinary officers satisfied themselves was not one of rabies. In neither case have we received any report from Professor Macfadyean, nor is there any reason why we should do so.