The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1873-02-04
Mad Dogs In Susquehanna County.
Cattle and Sheep Dying rith Hydrophobid-
Great Ercitement IN that Loca lag.


Mr.. Bunnell, of Scranton, few days
since returned home from Susquehanna
county, and relates to the editor Of the
Republican the following sad story of the
anxiety in Clifford township, for the future
Of some of the people, and also the suffer-
ing of animals, from what is now believed
to be hydrophobia. He says cattle and
sheep are dying from the disease, and it is
feared that some persons who have been
doctoring the animals, not knowing what
was the matter with them, will fall victims
to the terrible disease. The people are
very much exercised in that section, and
are living in perfect dread since they have
found out the facts and causes of the dis
ease among the brute creation. They do
not know that but one-half the dogs in the
township have been bitten and are liable
to go mad any moment. The facts are as
follows:
During the holidays, after the family Of
Mr. Richard Davis had retired for the
night, they heard an unusual noise about
the barn. Young John Davis got up, took
his gun and went out to the barn, and there
he saw dog. He fired, but missed the
animal. The dog made for him and he
beat hasty retreat to the house, and got
inside just in time to escape being bitten.
He loaded up. his gun and went out in
search of the dog, but he could see moth
ing of him. He was next seen and heard
at the residence of Mr.. Thomas Runnells,
who had large herd of cattle running at
large, the majority of which were fit for
market. The next place that he put in
an appearance was on the farm of Mr.. Ned
Williams, about half mile distant from
Runnell's where he was found dead the
next morning in shed where there were a
number of cattle and hogs.
The dog was buried and nothing more
was thought of the matter until one day
last week. On Tuesday last two cows of
Mr.. Runnell's were taken sick, and frothed
and foamed at the mouth in fearful man.
ner. Richard Davis and David Tobias,
two neighbors were called to see If they
could do anything to alleviate the suffer-
ings of the poor animals. These gentle
men at first thought they had been poisoned,
and gave remedies accordingly, but without
any satisfactory result. 1t was suggested
that probably they had lost their cud, or
had eaten something that got fast in their
throats. Mr.. Davis and Mr.. Tobias both
rolled up their sleeves and ran their bare
arms down the throats of the COWS to see
if they could detect anything, and when
they drew their arms out were covered with
a foam that dried almost instantly. Mr..
Tobias had a large cut on his hand which
was bleeding when he put his hand in the
mouth of the animals
The cows, when working in these spasms
or fits, would bite at anything that came
in their way, moan in the most pitiful
manner, and drop to the ground, and their
eyes were CLASSY and fairly starting from
their sockets when the fit was leaving
them if person was to go within their
reach they would rub up against them,
take hold of their clothing in such tender
way, as if pleading for aid-to do some-
thing for them. The people were at their
wits ends, for they could not tell what was
the matter with the cattle, and everything
that could be done had been done to allevi-
ate their sufferings.
While this state of affairs was existing,
school teacher from Greenville, Luzerne
county, happened in the neiglfborhood Of
Clifford, and being informed of the terrible
disease that was among the cattle, and
their manner of performing, said that a
friend of his short distance from Green
vile had thirteen sheep died from the ef
it to be the one that had been seen at the
place named above, and had left Greenvill,
about the holidays, in a mad fit. This in
telligence frightened the people, and wheI
any animal acts strange, 1t is at once tieC
up. Two COWS belonging to Mr.. Runnel
died ON Friday, and he had to shoot a larg
bull on Saturday, that was taken with
lit and showed evidence of viciousness.
Mr.. Williams also lost one COW from tn
same cause
1t is not known how many cattle hav
been bitten, as large numbers were runnin
out on the different farms
Since the fact has been established tina
the cows were bitten by mad dog tn
gentlemen who had been doctoring tn
cattle are very much alarmed, especial
Mr.. Tobias, who had the cut on his hant
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Mayor of Detroit In Trouble.