The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-05-06

many additional proofs Of the fact that hydrophoba 10
not connned 10 any particular period OF the year,
anu ~. mofe'ser, hotwitnstahu;ne ING popular
IMPRESSION even less prevalent In sum.
mer than IN either OF the other seasons
report made by committee to ,he American Medi.
cal ASSOCIATION IN 1886 embodied the history oil l02
OF rabies Gamma and furnished the following
satstics'3l cases occurred In the spring, Fl in the
summer, ~ IN The autumn and % IN tho winter This
made IN tue report OF 1870 and sti!l two
years alter the Board only recommends the muzzlug
Of dogs from the middle OF June to the middle Of
September, when, according 10 their own statement
1870, only popular Impression that the dis
ease only occurred during the heated term. IL looks
very much n tho gentlemen vi tho Health Do
partment accepted and believed IN the popular m-
took place in ihis city 1871 These divided as
follows January. /; May, l; July, 2; September /;
November, 2, and sun dogs are only TO be cared Tor
during the summer During tho year 1872 SIX
deaths occurred from hydrophobia, but nothing
stated rs TO the seasons during which they took
place For some time past hardly day has elapsed but
one or more deaths from hydrophooia arc published
by the papers CITY, and in some quarters has
become fashionable to credit these deaths to "ifgh"
regard due TO some obscure nervous disor-
ders IL is almost time that TINS senseess plan OF play.
ing with dread and terrible disease was stopped or
until some strict and thorough regulations are made
aud enforced providing Tor the Keeping OF dogs IN this
city every subject to the danger OF being bitten.
THE sPiTz sPEcIEs
The majority II not nearly all, the cases Of rabies
reported lately have been due 10 wounds inflicted
e e aVsS related Inc 10 b tho
this almost general danger from dogs OF this
species are examined u Will BIO seen that
established fact and recognized by nearly all medical
authorities that the closer related domestic anlnali
are 10 Wild ones oil The class or any the creator
the danger to be dreaded from wounds inflicted by
them The records OF the number OF deaths from
collected in this city and surroundings for
time past seem to bear out this idea 10 tho fullest
tent rho Spitz dog seems closely related and belongs
TO The species as the Arcuc wolf, and has much
oil tue same habits aud temperament Accustomed 10
cold and severe climate this dog has been domestcated
among US. ana his habits, mode OF life and surround
ngs entirely changed Pho Spite dog has never been
thoroughly tanned and doncsticatcd, no matter how
many years may have been spent his education.
No trust or dependence be placed upon this brood
for IL is Impossible 10 toll at what moment no will
upon his keepers and betray his origin by savage at
tack These are facts SO well established that thoy
cannot DO contradcted or passed over IN silence IL
then this species OF canine Is so dangerous to life
owing TO its susceptibility 10 rabies 1t seems absolutely
necessary that some precautton be taken to guard
against the danger. No laws preventing the taking
dogs the streets and public places OF tho city
will remedy this evil More stringent measures are
necessary. Ono remedy alone should be adopted, aud
II Is that an amendment should DO made to the ''san
tary code' preventing the Keeping or owning OF any
such breed Of dogs within Tho CITY limits. II
Tor the owners of the Spitz to say that other
dogs get mad ana bite people, who die from tho effects
OF wounds This Is no explanation for the alarm
ing tact that III the vast majority OF where per-
sons die from hydrophobia the wounds have resulted
from bites inflicted by dogs OF the Sptz Species and
where not the case there IS no evidence going
prove that the dogs inctng wounds have not been
beforehand bitten by animals OF this breed that the
disease hus originated spontaneously In the animal
who has bitten. Dr. Hammond, who is an authority
y
cross between the Pomeranian hound aud Arctic fox
and that IL is more likely that the saliva oil
tho animal is nearly always poisonous, par,cu.
lary when the dog irritable or excited.
In view OF thcso facts the only proper measure
the progress Ut this terrible anu fatal disease
Ia declare upon this breed of dogs particular
and destroy all dogs found rowing upon the
and claimed by owners. All dogs, also. should be
taxed IN order tho number present In.
Testing the city. The argument OF Mr. Bergh ssthat
there are many poor people who regard their pets
the most devoted friends they have-and with justice,
I'M, mt affnrh IN IN
scanty earnings the sum required for tho indulgence
their acclions," no plea that evcry man, woman
child city to run the risk oil hydrophoba
for the sake Of pels," and such pets Spitz dogs
generally make
Mr. Bergh, in an interview with reporter OF tho
HERALD took strong grounds against Interfering with
his friends even going SO tar us to state that
IL clearly within the meaning OF the law that the
care OF dogs found loose upon he streets devolved
upon the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty to AMI
mails and thut any attempt OF the Common Council 10
curail or infringe right tho society to exercise
their legal power In this regard would be resisted.
Within the two months the papers have reported
nearly twenty-five deaths from hydrophoba Ia this
city aud surroundings, aud still when any effort
remove tho source OF this terrible danger
attempt is made TO prevent u.
Many or the deaths reported from this disease havo
been due TO the Keeping OF dogs as household pets and
house in the city that has not one or more OF these
ANIMALS, and IN examination oil the poorer quarters Of
New York tho most miserable specimens OF the canine
viii be found on every floor Particular attention
should be PAID poddcs, small black and terriers
The latter breed seem, from their irritabty and
tendency bite 10 be affected with rabies;
also pugs, and all dogs small enough 10 be made lap
dogs aud be peltcd by women and children. In
playing with dogs children particularly liable
hurt and rrltate the ANIMALS beyond endurance.
The little may escape for the time being, but the
temper CT tho animals becomes such render lt
impossible TO even look them without causing
tncm TO bark and snap When almost trained
10 vicIousnes5 IN this manner these dogs
far less avoIdaDie than those OF the reptile Common
therefore suggests that dogs and such
mails sh ould treated mere pets. Cats are
intended by 20 Kill of vermIn and lo IN
hunters, Watchers rat killers scavcngers and
certainly not suited Tor the domestic CIRCLE Their
usefulness very decided but the danger that attends
their Introduction among children Is such to neu-
traiize many Of their good qualities
WHAT WE GOING TO DO ABOUT Irf
New York, with over one million OF innabtanta the
majority OF whom crowded together In the poorer
quarters OF the CITY, In constant danger OF cpl.
over the city inside OF thirty days There
only way Of checking the spread OF hydrophoba,
there 10 OF preventing the spread Of smallpox
other contagious diseases-that Is by quarantining
the centres OF Development Smallpox patients are
isolated hospitals specially prepared tor the pur.
pose In the same manner by separating or destroying
the dogs direct sources VI the disease will be dealt
with tho preventive principle. Tho majority oil
dogs that roam depend solely on the refuse
gar bage OF the streets Under these
OF danger presents itself from tho dog his
muzzle besmcared with the foucst dirt OF the street,
with clean Streets free from garbage and the desruc-
Afforded the city IN cleanliness and freedom from the
danger OF nydrophobu--two very much to be desired
conditions New York at present. KIN tho dogs and
clean Streets therefore, the simple way Of DEAL
Ing with this question.