New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-09-24
THE PEOPLF,s COLUnTN-

Ones Invariably Re3ccted-ZAe Editor not
Responsible for the Sentiments Expressed
| in the COmnaMnisatiens.l
The Times On Hydrsphobia.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN:
In leading editorial Of the Times of YES
terday, in relation tohydrophobia, our face
tious friend, Judge Walker, is pleased to
say, that, he is led by his own reflections
and observations, and the testimony of
eminent medical authority to doubt whether
any such disease as hydrophobia ETC., really
exists, or has ever existed.
Now, we do not propose to enter into
controversy or discussion of this matter as
an abstract question, with such an acute,
able and unequaled cOntrsversionalist as
the learned judge. For facts are of more
practical value and Importance than all the
theories of the most learned and wise. That
there are mad dogs in the city, and that
there are frequent instances of persons hav-
ing been bitten by the same is fully con-
tirmed by the Times itself. In the issue of
last Thursday, the twenty first. is the fol-
lowing paragraph to be found in the local
news:
MAD DOG KILLED-A CHILD BITTEN
Corporal Leutz shot mad dog Yesterday
afternoon at five o'clock. on st. Mary street,
between Laurel and Constance, which had
previously bitten Ellen BrOdy. ten wears
old, severely wounding her In the leg.
In yesterdays Times. the very paper in
which 1.-THE distinguished publicist's" article
on hydrophObia appears, is the following
paragraph:
BITTEN BY MAD DOG.
The little child of Mr.. William Kenner.
in Gretna, was bitten on Thursday evening
by rapid dog. who was shot by Mr.. Ken
ner. The wound was at once attended to
and is not considered dangerous.
And it was but a short time since that
the death of faithful police officer. if we
recollect rightly, was also reported by
the Times as having resulted from the bite
of rabid dog, some two or three weeks
previously.
Now, if tho Times is good authority,
have we not evidence sufficient from it
alone to refute the learned judges
been, any such thing as hydrophobia or
madness in dogs! Now, whether the dogs
in the cases reported were afflicted with
what is called communicable rabies, which
superinduces hydrophobia, we will not pre-
tend to say, but leave that matter to be
discussed by the learned judge, the scienti-
fic, and the medical fraternity who may feel
disposed to enter into the investigation of
that matter.
Sufficient for our purpose to say that
never was any such thing. still the fact of
so many reported cases of children and
other persons having been bitten by dogs
in the open streets of the city, is a crying
evil that the city authorities should take
immediate steps to abate. 1t may serve
Judge Walkers purpose to write facetious
article denying that there is any such thing
as hydrophobia in dogs. but the fact is un-
deniable that there are many reported
cases Of persons having died of hydro
phobia lone Of the most terrible deaths
which can befall any one). resulting, as is
dog.
Whether this supposition be we'll founded
or not. We will not stop to inquire, but one
thing we will assert, and that is we will
wager our friend the Judge, any amount
whatever, that it it should ever be his good
fortune to be bitten by any one of the nu-
mer0us dogs that infest our public thorough
fares. that he will instantaneously go raw
ing mad, even if he does not die of hydro
peobia. The bite may not suspendinduce
rage and madness of the victim may be
quite harmless to the judge, but then it
might produce certain death to the dog.
Therefore We would suggest to so able, so
vigorous and SO accomplished writer as
all know Judge Walker to be, that he
ought or might lend his valuable aid and
assistance in urging the city fathers to rid
the community Ut the intolerable nuisance
of unmuzzled dogs running at large in our
streets The streets belong to the people,
high low, rich and poor. and all should be
able to walk the same in security from the
bite of all dogs, whether there be or be not
such thing as hydrophobia in dogs. There
is, however, such thing known as
madness or hydrophObia in man IA
fear or dread of water, and we do
not know what objection so distinguished
publiclst as Judge Walker is univer-
sally conceded 20 be can have to
a dogs having occasionally an aversion or
fear OF water. In conceding the dog this
right, the judge would be but according the
canine race what he SO richly experienced
and enjoyed after his his return, on his re-
cent tour, from seeking spiritual consola-
ton from the Rev. DR.. Beecher, as highly |
gifted contemporary of his, in giving us a
fine sketch Of the jovial Judge. after his re-
turn from Beecher's. informed US through |
the columns of the REPUBLICAN that the |
Judge had great aversion to water, and
was quite as ready as ever to take good
Julep. We therefore think it useless
and idle to enter into a learned discus
sion OF the abstract question whether or not
a dog has at times a great fear or aversion
to water, but trust that now our iOvial and
good natured fellow-citizen. the judge, will
oin with us in asking the city fathers to
rid our streets of the almost countless num-
Ders OF unmuzzled dogs that infest the same,
and by so doing save many poor mother
,he anguish of seeing her child bleeding,
'orn, and writing in pain and anguish from
the bite of vicious furious dog, even If