The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-25
Dogs and sheep,

have grown Indifferent to the subject o
sheep killing dogs since they have learn
ed that their votes are acomplete protect
ion in ademagogical Legislature sgains
the passage Of laws to put a stop to th
rayages Of dogs against the fOcks. Never
theless, should what we are abou. TO So!
attract the attention Of the people suficl
emily to revive the question, with SOM
prospect Of legislative action, the com
munity Of dog-owners, II not the dog
themselves, will soon show come concerr
upon the subject.
We find in that excellent sporting
paper, FreIt and Stream (of New York;
OF the 9Th inst, an article upon the dog
It Is an analysis Of paper read BY DR.
Alexander MADDEN, Of New York, befor,
meeting Of a section Of the American
Institute. We gather from this analysiI
some interesting facts, and an account Of
theory put forth by the Doctor that L
important.
The Doctor says tina! the principa
cause that lowers the dog in the eStimat.
ion Of man Ia hydrophobia. He show
how slight is the danger from this cause
in stating that in population Of over 40,
OOO,O 900 there were In 1870 1888, 100 deaths
Of which only sixty.three were Rt.
tributsd. to hydrophobia. Out Of 2S,72s
deaths in New York city in 1874 only Eve
are attributed to hydrophobia. In 1875
out Of $1,000, none to hydrophobia
During twenty-five years ending In 1872
there we're In England aud Wales II ,22l, :
742 deaths, 1913 Of which were attributed
10 hydrophobia; a mortality which the
Doctor thinks entirely too email to justify
"the persecution now carried on against
the glowing servant Of mankind" the
dog.
But the Doctor finds less ground for
sympathy with the CANNES when be comes
10 consider their depredations upon
aocks. In 373 counties Of % States dogs
killed in 1855 1854 sheep. The whole
number killed In the United States dur.
ing the same period was estimated at 800.
900, aud the loss to wool.growers was
estimated at 100000.
: Since that year no estimation has been
given, but It Is believed that the ravages
Of The dogs have not at all lessened.
The Doctor thinks that generally dogs
are not stimulated to sheep.killipg by
hunger, but do itout OF wild mischief.
The habit, he supposes, Is a remaining
vice OF the dogs wild nature. BE assails
the focks seldom alone, but with com.
pany, and, sometimes in packs. Dogs
sometimes gather about the neighborhood
before the attack, and the number present
seems to stimulate the disposition for
murder, and they sweep the field 10 their
impetuous attack.
The doctor makes the striking remark
that the slut never attacks sheep-a
statement we never saw before, and one
that can be readily controyerted II not
true.
Doctor Hadden says tibet the long as.
ISOLATION OF the dog with human society
renders the possibility Of his being cast
of exceedingly improbable. Therefore
be earnestly presents his theory as one
that may eradicate the dogs tendency 10
sheep. killing and greatly diminish his
liability to hydrophobia. He proposes
the casiration 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 10 the
sheep.fold. The dogs attachments to bis
master and his home are thereafter never
interrupted by savage expeditions.
The Doctor tried the effect Of his plan
upon mongrel. He made faithful and
handsome watchdog, and throwed up bis
disposition TO run with other dogs. BE
did not grow fat and sluggish, but re.
mained bright, active, and docile. A
shepherd.dog and rat.terrier were ex.
perimented upon with the beat results.
Usefulness was not diminished in either,
and both were docile, faithful, and effici.
emit, and the Doctor declares that 1t is his
opinion that IL all dogs that run at large
we're altered the ravages on flocks ofsheep
would cease altogether.
he states that the horse, the bull, and
the ram become more docile and useful
by the operation. The altered dog be.
comes less Questionable house pet and
far superior to the slut. He becomes q
more reliable guard because less liable
10 be drawn off by other dogs, and like
the casrated cat, lives 10 be useful to a
greater age.
An interesting point in the Doctor's
theory Ia that castration would render
the dog less liable to hydrophobia. In
deed, that disease Is probably more often
engendered by the fasting and rage In
running In companies than anything else.
BE thinks it Is practicable thus nearly
to put an end to the two great objections
10 dogs.
The Doctors objections are eminenntly
worthy Of public consideration. II there
Is any one thing more peculiarly horri.
bic than hydrophobia we do not think Of
II now. Notwithstanding the small mum.
Der Of deaths from that madness, nothing
more excites the community than the cry
Of amad dog.n II the Doctor Is right
that the operation advised by him will
probably put an end to bydrophobia, 1t
would be a benefaction to mankind.
But when we add 10 this the abolition
Of the ravages Of aocks by dogs the ben.
efaction becomes twofold and immensely
great. Then there Is the domestic aRd
social benefits Of converting the dog into
a we'll behaved as we'll rs useful animal
relieving society Of many revolving
things and scenes which have annoyed
people beyond measure.
Out Of these suggestions cannot the
people and the law makers establish q
platform for the securing ofthe blessing
OF protection against the two great evils
Of dog? Afriend suggests that in addi'
ton TO any provision Of law that might
be agreed upon there might be license
tax upon breeding dogs that would es-
tablish value for them. Thus only de.
sirable bloods would be propagated, and
society still further protected from dog
evils.
The subject Is one Of immense impor,
lance. The loss Of more than $1,000
900 "a low es,imate) from the ravAges Of
dogs in one year in the United states ia
what we are sure the nation will not long
endure, and the best way to put stop 10
Il Is what is necessity Of the day.