§ 67. Mr. BLAIRasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agricul- 38 ture whether any cases of rabies have occurred among the dogs landed from abroad and undergoing quarantine; whether such dogs were apparently healthy when landed and how long it was before the disease manifested itself; and whether, in view of the evidence before the Ministry, the increase in the period of quarantine appears to be justified?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of AGRICULTURE (Sir A. Boscawen)Yes, Sir, two undoubted cases of rabies have occurred among dogs undergoing quarantine and a third highly suspicious case is at present under investigation. In both cases confirmed as rabies, the dogs were landed in an apparently healthy condition. In one case the disease manifested itself after 2½ months' quarantine and the other after a period of 4 months. In view of these circumstances, the Ministry is satisfied that the increase in the period of quarantine is fully justified, and it is satisfactory to note that no case of rabies has occurred in any animal which has been liberated as healthy after undergoing the statutory period of quarantine.