The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-13
WAR ON THE SPITE.

ARGUMENT BEFORE MASSACHUSETTS, LEdIs-
LATIvE COMMITTEE ON THE QUESTION OF
RESTRICTIONS ON TIE KEEPING OF Dogs
IS THERE SUCH A THING AS HYDRoPHoBIA?
BosToN Feb. IL 1873.
The ual on the SPITE ana his Tribe was began
at the State House to-day when hearing had
petition restrictive leg station against
dogs for tho better protection OF the community from
the evils OF hydrophobia and rabies. Last year the
same subject discussed before legislative
committee, but nothing done 10 decrease
tho nuisance. The present tax Is So for
males and So for females, aud the petitioners
that be increased 10 $40 for males and 500 for
females. Both sides wero represented by counsel,
Mr. Gorgan, of Boston, appearing Tor the petitioners,
and Mr. L. p. Brown for the Boston Kennel Club
Besides these Mr.. George 7. Angel, agent for tho
Society Tor the Prevention Of Cruelty to Anmals Mr.
f. II Lathrop, OF the Hampton Rod and Gun Club !;
AL Watts, the Boston dog destroyer, and Elijah
Morse, the sensational temperance reform advocate
face appears ectlon with poorly painted
sign Of rising sun IN advertising on rural iences
a certain stove polish, took SIDES The
question. The blue room, VIII ere the hearing
riven, was packed that it resembled primary
meeting all respects except the presence OF ladies'.
Old women In pulls young women in curls and women
of cer.an age, as Byron said in all OF head
ing and TOOK up the seats side OF tho rcom
Tney came from Beacon Hill and the Back
Bay; they all own pets and poodles; they
possess the gentle ap.z and are bound TO
ventilated room, listening 70 language that could not
DO uttered IN the paror without ahront, applaudiug
every point their side OF the question
expressing their disapproval OF what was against
them. Que woman kept perpoualiy objectins and
all through the room, until Mr. Gorean got I'm.
patient that he gently "s,t on herr and extingulshcd
her for the rest Of Tue nearing
FACTS AGAINST THE PETS.
The arguments Of The petitioners were the same as
those used before. The question OF bydrophooa IS
difficult ono TO settle. The disease has increased
lately with alarming rapidly especially In the west
ern part Of tue state anu ~ Bostoa. People have
been died frOm the etEects-dled most
horrible deaths. What is wanted is restrictive egs
laton TO decrease The humber OF dogs aud pro-
mote the Improvement OF the breed II a
tax Of $40 were put on male aogs, and
$40 female but good dogs would DO kept, and
lucy would be we'll taken care Of 1t is also asked
that every owner OF dog shall give bonds thai no
Will pay for all damages that may DO done by II,
and insist ON a law tnat will provide tor line OH
every person who allows dog 10 go abroad without
proper restraints and without his collar and number.
Whether death resulted from the actual bi,o or from
diseased imaRinatiop winch superinduccd hydro
phopia, the DOG was The cause.
FRIGuTFUL pGUFEs.
MI. Morse stated that there hai been since last
March thirteen deaths from hydropnoDa 10 the State.
Thirty eight bites had been recorded, five were
set down as endangerng life.
Mr. Davis, OF Gloucester argued also that ours
winch about The streets, because not properly
10 do that was to increase the tax ana the re trio
tons; the matter would regulate itseli.
HIN, IN.
William 7. Angel leu the hght behalf Of poor
Tray. He argued that IT was an huffman proposition
to deliberately lcgisaie dogs out Of existence Tho
soul OF humane man rcvolts al the Darc thought,
said. Dogs were KIND, useful aud aneclionate.
They had lde their influence ict on tho humau
In ali ages and all climes. He cited the cas- of a
school England where 900 children had b, edu-
affection Tor aunib animals and out those
1000 not Que was ever indctei Tor criminal offence.
ne As ed
imag Tho bite OF dog could not cause death
OF lt,eI Dogs had been Kicked about The streets
abused neglected, ana he would like to know II they
nau not received abuse enough to make even "A man
mad. Dogs need training; they need good influences
much as men. They had saved human life under all
circumstances; had rescued men from drowning, from
offered bill, which he wanted passed BY the LegsIa-
ture, to provide Tor the erection OF pounds tor the
keeping OF dogs that are SICK or dstempored or stray
ing away from their owners
Dr. John p. Ordway followed on the same side and
put IN strong plea tor tho spLz aud his brethren. h.
II. I.athrop, OF Hampdeu county made savage at.
tack on Mr.. Morse, syng that he had used language
unDecomng gentleman, and Mr Morse responded by
declining TO say that what Mr. Latnrop asserted was
he but that II was wiul perversion Of the ruth.
granger who presided over the deliberations Of tho
body had much difficulty W preserve order.
HYDRoPHoBiA
A. Watts, the dog lancer the next advocate of
OF the dog. He nad treated over l. 500 cannes and
nevcr met case OF hydrophoDia He did not believe
there was any such thing. 1t was usually diphtnera
or rome dislempor. several other gentlemen, all
owners OF some Tine specimen OF dog argued
against the proposed legislation because IL
,nhuman and unjust Mr. Gorgun closed Tor
the petitioners in very eloquent argument 10
snow that ogs should be just any other
evil that aiiiicts tho community. Inc argument on
the ground of humanity was good enough AS lar as II
went, but IT did not go Tar enough he was seeking
this Icy isation purely on the ground OF humanity
and ho ala whether tue soul vi the dog was
immortal, some OF their defenders claim Ho would
set more value The lilo OF one human being tnan ON
the lives vi all The pcts aud pOodlcs IN tho State.
Ihe meeting adjourned amid good deal OF excite
mont The feeipgs OF both sides terribly strrod
up and the Tight Tho Legislature promises 10 be