1908.] Suspected Rabies in Northampton. 



757 



Parish Council. In the latter event the Council should endeavour to come to terms 

 with the owner of the land as to the price to be paid or the rent to be charged, 

 and, if the Council decide to purchase, they should obtain the consent of the 

 Parish Meeting and apply to the County Council and to the Local Government 

 Board for their sanction to the raising of a loan for the purpose. 



It may be necessary for the Board to address further communications to you from 

 time to time, with reference to other matters connected with the Acts, but they hope 

 that the foregoing observations will be sufficient to enable your Council to proceed 

 with the discharge of their duties in the matter. The Board will be happy at all 

 times to advise as to the best course to be taken in any particular case in which your 

 Council may desire their assistance. I am, &c, 



T. H. Elliott, Secretary. 



The Board of Agriculture and Fisheries have addressed the 

 following circular letter, dated the 18th February, 1908, to Rail- 

 way Companies in Great Britain on the sub- 

 Conveyance of Dogs ject of the Conveyance of Dogs by Railway : — 

 by Railway. SlR > 



I am directed by the Hoard of Agriculture and 

 Fisheries to advert to their Circular Letter A. 95/C, 

 dated the 3rd May, 1902, a copy of which is enclosed,* as to the unsatis- 

 factory accommodation alleged to have existed prior to that date in connection 

 with the conveyance of dogs, and I am to say that the Board understand that 

 in the case of several railways, arrangements have been made with a view to meet the 

 complaints on the part of dog owners indicated in that Circular. .Further representa- 

 tions have, however, been made since 1902, suggesting that action should be taken by 

 the Board under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, in the matter. 



The Board think that the circumstances of the case will be fully met if they receive 

 an assurance from each Railway Company that the dog-boxes, which in former times 

 were constructed at the bottom of railway carriages and underneath the passenger 

 compartments, have already been abolished, or will no longer be used for the transit 

 of dogs, so far as the particular Company is concerned. 



The Board would be glad to receive such an assurance from your Company, and 

 they wish also to take this opportunity of suggesting the desirability of providing 

 movable cages for dogs in Guards' Vans, and of arranging for the disinfection of such 

 cages, and also of the kennels set apart for dogs at railway stations, as soon after use 

 as possible, with a view to the prevention of the spread of such diseases as mange 

 and distemper. I am, &c, 



T. H. Elliott, Secretary. 



The Board of Agriculture have received reports from Northampton as to the 

 destruction of two dogs under circumstances which give rise to a strong suspicion that 

 the dogs were suffering from Rabies. The Board have 

 Suspected Rabies in therefore ' as a precautionary measure, issued an Order 

 ~_ under the Diseases of Animals Acts, prohibiting the 



rl OrtnamptOn. movement of dogs out of a district comprising the 

 borough of Northampton and certain parishes surround- 

 ing it. The Order also prescribes Regulations for the control and muzzling of dogs 

 within the scheduled district. Persons outside the district who propose to enter any 

 part of it would be well advised in their own interest to refrain from taking any dogs 

 with them, so long as the Order remains in operation. 



Copies of the Order can be obtained gratis on application to the Board at 

 4, Whitehall Place, London, S.W. 



* Journal, June, 1902, Vol. ix, p. 87. 



