564 
point, could only extract the information 
that ‘‘it is only in very exceptional circum- 
stances that the Board are prepared, subject 
to a consideration inter alia of the position 
as to Rabies existing at the time of importa- 
tion, to grant a Special Order authorising 
the removal of an imported dog from 
veterinary to private premises during the 
period of quarantine, and any application 
by the owner of the dog for a Special Order 
is required to be supported by a full state- 
ment of the reasons for which this exceptional 
treatment is asked, and the Board cannot 
consider any application for a Special Order 
until after the Licence to land the dog in 
question has been issued.”’ 
The Board of Agriculture rightly or 
wrongly discourage the importation of dogs 
as much as they can. There is no doubt 
that their action in the matter of some years 
back, however clumsily it was carried out, 
had the effect of stamping out rabies in this 
country, and it is quite natural that there 
should be anxiety on their part to lessen the 
chance of any further outbreak of that fell 
disease. The ‘“ performing ”’ dog, the pet 
of the diplomat and his friend, must always 
be a constant source of anxiety, however 
few there may be of these species which 
find their way into this country. 
To anyone who knows anything about 
rabies it is a matter of regret that the Board 
do not make one hard and fast rule for all 
dogs, and in doing so act on the advice of 
those scientific gentlemen who know most 
about the subject. The best authorities 
tell us that proper quarantine for three 
months is ample for the purpose, and it is 
hard to understand why an extra three 
months should be thought necessary in 
many cases. 
It is true that in some cases the Board do 
allow a dog out of quarantine when he has 
done only three months, but they do not 
advertise this fact, and seem therefore to 
wish that it should not be generally known. 
The sort of dog that is let out at three 
months is the pet dog whose owner is in 
a position solemnly to declare that it has been 
living with him continuously for a certain 
stated period previous to his landing ; but, 
THE NEW BOOK 
OF rie OG: 
if six months is necessary in any case, it is 
very much to be doubted whether this dog, 
who has maybe with his owner been travelling 
and never on a ‘‘lead”’ through all the capitals 
of Europe, is not the very one of all others 
who should suffer the full term. No such 
concession is allowed to the valuable show 
dog, every minute of whose life has been 
watched, and who has never had any possible 
chance of coming into contact with a rabid 
stray dog, and, moreover, whose owner is 
prepared to swear to and prove this beyond 
any question or doubt. 
Motor Cars 
and Dogs. 
Unquestionably the greatest 
enemy that the dog possesses 
at the present time is the motor car. If 
such statistics were obtainable it 
would be interesting to know how many 
thousand specimens of the canine race have 
lost their lives by being run over by 
motor cars and cycles since these machines 
came into being. A dog almost invariably 
leaves it till the last moment to get out of 
the way of any vehicle on a road; he is, in 
fact, in this respect somewhat like the idea 
of an Englishman given by an American 
when asked to express the same, his reply 
being that having been in London a few 
days he had come to the opinion that the 
sole idea dominating an Englishman’s life was 
to see how near he could get to being run 
over without actually performing the feat. In 
these circumstances it can well be understood 
that a dog, accustomed as he only has been 
to the steady and reliable gait of his friend 
the horse, who also will never, if he can 
possibly help it, tread on him, is entirely out 
of his reckoning with the, in most cases, 
terribly fast running motor car ; he is unable 
to gauge its speed, and pays the penalty. 
In towns where dogs learn to be very careful, 
and motors are bound to be, the risk is not 
so great, but on any country roads and 
lanes which are at all popular with motorists 
the mortality amongst puppies “at walk ” 
and all dogs is very serious. 
Presuming the owner of the dog is fortunate 
enough to know whose car it was that ran 
over his dog, and to have some evidence of 
excessive or unreasonable speed or other 
any 
