The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-11-07 00:00:00

Etc Stourbribge ()Pinata

SATTJRDAE:
_ _ _
DANGEROUS DOGS.

AMID the Babel of electioneering noisJ it
is a relict to turn one's attention from the
consideration of things political, and discuss
some subject of public interest, on which
men otherwise hopelessly at issue may agree,
even though the theme is a painful one.
Such a subject is that which has to do with
hydrophobia, a malady among the most fear-
ful of the ills that menace mankind. Here
follows a paragraph cat from Wednesday's
Morning Post:

"11TD-ROPHOBTA.—TIic Registrar-General,
in his weekly return, says: The death of a
child, aged 10 years, in University College
Hospital, admitted from 3, Livery-stables,
Sharples Hall-street, Pancras, resulted from
hydrophobia This raises the number of
deaths referred to this cause in London
since the beginning of this year to 20."
In face of this there can be but little doubt
that this dreadful disease is alarmingly on
the increase in Great Britain. To take
London alone, we have it on authority that
more deaths have occurred within the metro-
politan area from hydrophobia in the present
year than during the whole of the fourteen
years immediately preceding. There have
been twenty authenticated fatal cases in
London since January, according to the
official return; and in one or two _ districts,
when) several deaths have occurred in close
succession, a state oF things bordering on
panic prevails, as well-it may. Under pres-
sure of public opinion Scotland-Yard has just
decided to take active steps to, as far as
possible, guard against the occurrence of
this terribly fatal disease. The statute com-
monly known as the Dogs Act confers upon
the custodians of the peace the power of
seizing all stray dogs, and after detaining
them for a given number of days in a place
of safety, splling or destroying the animals,
unless in the meantime they have been
claimed by their owners. It is safest to re-
gard every dog as dangerous that is dis-
covered roaming at large uncontrolled, for
all uncared-for canines are liable to develop
disease. To maintain health and condition
a dog must of necessity receive attention;
yet in all large cities and towns there are
numbers of ownerless curs picking up a
precarious living in the gutters, and snapping
at such children and persons of larger
growth as happen to get into their way,
I often without any provocation or interfer-
ence. Such animals are more than a mere
nuisance, and the provisions cap. 51 of Act
34 and 35 Victoria were very properly
framed for public protection, and cannot be
I too rigorously carried into effect, not only in
periods of panic, but at all times. Indeed,
the keeping of dogs in populous places
might with advantage be rendered much
more difficult than is the case at present.
It is not too much to say that the dog has
become a plague by his excessive numbers,
and the inadequate attention extended to
him by his so .called master. No person
should be permitted to keep a dog unless he
has proper accomodation for it, any more
than he is allowed to kee p a pig under con-
ditions dangerous to others. To maintain
health a dog requires cleanliness and exer-
cise in a suitable place; and this should
always be under competent control if taken
in any public thoroughfare or resort. Rabies
is doubtless induced by the animal living
under unwholesome and unnatural conditions
more than by any other cause. The chain
and the muzzle are of little avail for the
permanent protection of the public. If a
dog is not safe, by reason of rational treat-
ment, training, and housing, then he should
be destroyed. The requirements of the
species must be respected, or the public pays
the dreadful penalty of exposure to the
horrors of hydrophobia. Hitherto hydro-
phobia has been but imperfectly understood
—known only as a deadly and incui able
disease. Medical experts have often at-
tempted to elucidate its fatal phenomena,
and endeavoured to discover some specific
to remedy its awful effects, hut unsuccess-
fully. Just recently a French scientist has
laid claim to the finding of a preventive.
M. Pasteur holds that he has succeeded, by
spinal inoculation, in rendering dogs proof
against contagions madness. His experi-
ments may or may not lead to a new depar-
ture in the whole matter. As to that we
express no opinion; but even should the
Parisian theory prove practical, the neces-
sity for keeping a strict check on dogs and
their masters will not be gone. Supposing
we could place dependence on an inoculated
poison, it would be far wiser to exercise all
possible vigilance in the direction of reduc-
ing the number of dog-bites to a minimum,
for without the bite of the rabid animal
there can be no hydrophobia. We would
suggest that a smart fine be inflicted upon
all persons exercising ownership over any
dog and not keeping the animal under per-
manent control and conditions calculated to
preserve its health and the public safety.
Relaxation of control would bring its pun-
ishment in the seizure and destruction of the
dog, or the payment of a substantial ransom,
if the existing Act were in all cases enforced
by the authorities, and so the protection of
the lieges would be secured Everybody
admits that dog-fancying and dog-keeping
has been carried to such an excessive extent
that the canine army is very much more
numerous than is good for the country at
large. The enormous number of masterless
mongrels that infest the streets of every
town ought to be destroyed by some method
as painless as possible without compunction.
They cause not a few accidents by barking
at the heels of horses in an aggravating
manner; and even when free from all Sus-
picion of rabies, their bites are dangerous
enough by reason of the poison-virus which
clings to their fangs in consequencs of their
haphazard meals on all sorts of garbage and
offal. We shoreld not object to a raising of
the dog-tax if such a course would be at all
likely to lessen the undeniably superabund.
ant number of dogs suffered to exist among
us; but we consider that the desired end
might be arrived at by a more stringent
, police supervision of the animals and their
abodes. The faithful friend of man, as the
dog has not inappropriately been sty:, .1, may,
with the requisite attention, continue to
hold an enviably high position, but neglected
he degenerates from a pet, at once useful
and pleasing into a nuisance and a danger.
When the individual fails to provide for the
fulfilment of the proper conditions, then the
law must effectually intervene for the public
protection.

BLOZOLINZ 1-Irolt TEE TENTHS AND BRIATII.—k few
drops of the liquid "Floroline" sprinkled one wet tooth
brush produces a pleasant lather, which thoroughly
cleanses the teeth from all parasites or impurities,
hardens the gums, prevents tartar, 'tons decay, gives
Lb. teethe peculiar pearly-whitness, and a delightfu
fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant °dual
arising from decayed teeth or tobaceo smoke. "The
Fragrant Floroline," being composed in part of Honey
and sweet herbs, is delicious to the taste, and the
greatest toilet discovery of the age. Price 6d of all
Chemists cad Perfumers, Wholesale depbt moved to
Parringdon Road, London
To 13/101.K2BPBES, PUBLICANS, AND THE TOBACCO
TRAM—Wills', Lepel, Hignett's, Archer's, Brahks-
ton's, Lambert & Butler's, Ogden's, and all descriptions
of Packet and Fancy Tobaccos at factory prices. Fine
Dark Chester Cut and Birdeeye. at as 41 per lb ; Gal-
lagher's Genuine Irish Roll, a: 8,5 J per lb ; Good Irish
84 21 & 81 41; Thin Twist, 8. 4.1 per lb ; Good Id
Ciftiv I. from 41 91 per 100; a I,peehility in ‘lOO4l 2
Cigars, at 8. 61 arid 10. 61 I,er 100; Spills, 4s prr
gross ; ifatche., frcirt I. 7d per foots ; Clay Pipes, fr u,
le 61 ler gross Price List ft, r ii epplicaic.ii. O. dcr.
I hi. pus% Will receive ',tomtit attelitlOts. LOADtit
b 6, bull Rtreet, Birmingham.