The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-14
.nl,nas arisi Shaa,,.

Dogs and Sheep.
n we rather. think this. will he an Interest
,ihg article to sheep.raisers, and should be
10 thesownsrs .Sf dogs; but they may have
grown fRaifsrenrfuthr subject or sheep
killing dogs since they have learned that,
their votes are a completes proseation In . q
demagogieai Legislature ag against the passage
.of laws to put a stop to Che rayages Of dogs
amongst the; Aocks. Nevertheless. should
what we are about to say attract the atten.
lion OF people aufi eiently Gtp feyiye the
question, with some prospect Of legislative
action, Tue community Of ,dog-owners,e IL
not the dogs themselves, will soon show
some concern upon the subject: isa 1157q ~ !.
we lind I'M that excellent sporting paper,
Forest and Stredn, (of New York;, Of the
9th instant, an article upon the dog. It's
an analysis Of a paper read by DR.. ALExAS-
DER HADDEN. OF New York, before q meet
ing OF section of the American, Institute.
We gather from this analysis some interest
ing facts, and ain account Of a theory put
forth by the Doctor that is Important. /, d
The Doctor says that the principal cause
that lowers the dog in the estimation OF
man is bydrophobia. He shows how slight
is the danger from this cause in stating that
in population of over 40,00O,00O there
were in 1870 1913, 100 deaths, OF which only
lsixtY-tbree were. attributed to hydrophobia.
Out of %, 729 deaths in New York city in
1874 only FIVE are attributed to bydropho-
bia. In 1875, out Of So,7O9, none TO hydro
pbobia. In 1879, out OF 1922, only five
from hydrophobia. During twenty-five
years ending 1872, there were in England
and Wales II ;22o,724 deaths, 373 Of which
were attributed to hydrophobia; mortali-
| y which the Doctor thinks entirely too
small to justify ''the persecution now car
RED on against :" the loving servant OF
mankind" the dog.
But the Doctor finds less ground for SYM
pathy with the CANNES when he comes to
consider their depredations upon flocks. In
37S counties OF % States dogs killed in 1865
1854 sheep. The whole number killed in
the United States during the same period
was estimated at 100000, and the loss to
wool-growers. was estimated at S2,OOO,OO0.
Since that year no estimate has been
given, but it is believed that the rayages OF
the dogs have not at all lessened. The Doc
| tor thinks that generally dogs are not slim
rlated to sheep-kilIing by hunger, but do il
i n ,;of ba- hnhi ha
poses, is remaining vice of the dogs wild
nature. He assails the focks seldom alone,
but with company, and sometimes In packs.
Dogs sometimes gather about the neighbor'
hood before the attack. and the number pre-
sent seems, to stimulate the disposition Tor
murder. and thew sweep the field in their
impetuous attack.
The Doctor makes the striking remark
! that the slut never attacks sheep-a state:
ment we never saw made before, and one
that can be readily controverted if not true.
I Doctor MADDEN says that the long associa-
ton OF the dog with human society renders
the possibility OF his being cast off exceed
| ingiy improbable. Therefore he earnestly
presents his theory as one that may eradl-
cate the dogs tendency to sheep-kiling and
greatly diminish his liability to hydropho-
bia.. He proposes the castration OF dogs as
way to end sheep.killing and variety OF
canine evils This operation will break up
the disposition to association with dogs,
and TO concoct the murderous visits to the
sheep-fold. The dogs attachments to his
L i I, pfar
interrupted by savage expeditions.
The Doctor tried the effect of his plan
upon q mongrel. He made faithful and
handsome watchdog, and showed no dis
position to run with other dogs. He did
not grow fat and sluggish, but remained
bright, active, and docile. A shepherd-dog
and rat-terrier were experimental upon
with the best results. Usefulness was not
diminished in either, and both were docile,
faithful, and efficient, and the Doctor de-
clares that it is his opinion that il all
dogs that run at large were altered the
ravages on focks OF sheep would cease al
| together. .-....-..@
He states that the horse, the bull, and the
ram become more docile and useful by the
operation. The altered dog becomes less
Objectionable house-pet and far superior to
the slut He becomes more reliable guard
because less likely to be drawn of By other
dogs, and, like the castrated cat, lives to be
useful to a greater age.
An interesting point in the Doctors the
DRY is that castration would render the dog
less liable to hydrophobia. Indeed, that
disease is probably more often engendered
by the fasting and rage and af,rays that
happen in running iii companies than any
thing else. He thinks it is practicable thus
nearly to put an end to the two great OBJ
iections to dogs. .,~.
The Doctors suggestions are eminenty
worthy OF public consideration. If there is
any one thing more peculiarly horrible than
hydrophobia we do. not think Of it now.
Notwithstanding the small number Of deaths
from that madness, nothing more excites a
community than the cry of =" mad.dog." II
the Doctor is right that the operation adj