§ Mr. FIELDasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether high-class brood mares are admitted free and unquestioned into England; whether he can explain why European mares intended to be brought to Ireland are obliged to be quarantined in England and treated with mallein; whether he is aware that most veterinarians are of opinion that the mallein treatment leads in many instances to make a mare pick foal; and whether he will consider the advisability of adopting the English procedure?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThe first part of this question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. Ireland is free from glanders, and as a precaution against the possible introduction of (hat disease, the Department require that horses from the Continent shall be subjected to the mallein test before being allowed to be imported into this country. The Department are not aware that the majority of the veterinary profession hold the opinion referred to in the question. The Department do not propose to alter their present method of procedure in this matter.