1922.] 



Eradication of Babies. 



1151 



by an imported dog, which, owing to the abnormal conditions arising from the 

 War, escaped the Quarantine Eegulations. This case was directly responsible 

 for 129 cases of rabies between Devon and Cornwall before the disease was 

 finally eradicated from those counties in August, 1919. The risk of re-import- 

 ing rabies was increased during the period of demobilisation following the 

 armistice, when, in spite of Army, Navy and Air Force regulations forbidding 

 importation by members of His Majesty's Forces except under quarantine 

 conditions, dogs were undoubtedly landed illegally. Some of these were 

 detected and the offender dealt with. To such cases must be attributed the 

 invasions of rabies in South Wales in March, 1919, in the Metropolitan area 

 in April, 1919, in Xorth Essex in August, 1919, and in Wiltshire extending 

 into Hampshire and Dorsetshire in July, 1920. 



Seventeen counties — all in the South of L England or South Wales — were 

 affected by the disease during the period from 1918 to 1921 (inclusive). 

 The total number of confirmed cases of rabies was 319, but the number of reported 

 cases investigated by the Ministry was 908. The total number of persons 

 known to have been bitten by affected or suspected dogs was 236 ; of this 

 number, 87 were bitten by rabid dogs and 123 underwent Pasteur treatment, 

 by arrangement with the Ministry of Health, in Paris, Plymouth or London. 

 None of these cases were known to have developed hydrophobia. 



The method adopted by the Ministry in dealing with the disease may be 

 summarised as follows : — 



(a) Notification of suspected cases by telegram to the Ministry. 

 Diagnostic inquiry at the Ministry's laboratory by examination of the 

 head and neck of suspected animals. 



(b) Immediate local inquiry by inspectors of the Ministry and Local 

 Authority into the history of affected dogs and all contacts ; particu- 

 lars of persons bitten being sent at once to the Ministry of Health for 

 action. 



(c) On confirmation of a case of rabies, an Order is immediately 

 applied by the Ministry to an area of about 15 to 20 miles radius around 

 the place where the affected dog was found, requiring the muzzling of all 

 dogs in public places and prohibiting the movement of all dogs out of 

 that area except by licence and under quarantine conditions. 



The consistent pursuit of this policy of muzzling and movement restric- 

 tions, involves considerable work ; 18,053 licences were issued authorising 

 the movement of dogs under these regulations. There is no doubt, however, 

 that the control exercised by the Ministry has been justified by its success. 



* * * * * * 



ADDITIONS TO THE LIBRARY. 



Agriculture, General and Miscellaneous. 



Howell, J. Pryse. — An .Agricultural Atlas of Wales. (23 pp.) South- 

 ampton : Ordnance Survey, 1921, 5s. net. [63(42); 55.912. J 



Bledisloe, Lord. — Potatoes and Pigs with Milk as a Basis of Britain's 

 Food Supply. With some Hints on the Production of each. [A paper 

 read before the British Association at Edinburgh, September 12th, 

 1921.] (59 pp.1 London: Hugh Eees, Ltd., 1921, 15s. [338.1(02); 

 63.512; 63.64(02^.] 



