Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-02
Mad Dogs and MuzxIes.

From the London Saturday Review
We hope that every one who is interested in
this grave question (hydrophobia) has carefully
read the able letter addressed to the Times by
Mr.. George Fleming. Mr.. Fleming is known as
by far our best authority on veterinary cues
lions. He has done more than any one In this
country to raise veterinary pathology and med
icine to a secure scientific level, and his book
on rabies and hydrophobia is q standard work.
No one can speak on the subject with greater
authority then he. And yet SO profound is the
prejudice against the muzzle-the only efficient
ing has not, apparently, the courage to mem
ton IL, but leaves us to gather from his nnh
lished works what are the simpler, safer.
more certain, and more expeditions" meas.
ures which he would have us adopt Mr.
Fleming would have saved many OF his read.
ers much trouble and his letter would ha We haan
much more effective If he had quoted the fol.
lowing sentences from his Rabies and Hydro-
phobia': Nv hen the disease threatens to become
believe that q mad dog has bitten several Others
and these cannot be discovered, the use of the
muzzle should be resorted to, and all dogs seen
In the streets Of towns or in the country with
out q muZzle should be seized by the police as
suspicious animals. This is one of the great
be that eae
homes and wander about without this safa
guard, then surely dog SO unprovided ought
worn q rabid animal might cause "A
terrible amount of mischief wfthout at
tfactlng the attentlon OF the police, merely be-
cause it was like other dogs. On these grounds
am certainly inclined to advocate recourse 10
the muzZle Its use when vigorously enforced
must be beneficial during an epizooty of rabies /"
That is q temperate enough statement of onin.
ion, but surely, as coming from our leading an.
thortty on the subject, IL is sufficiently decisive
TO warrant the authorities in acting upon il.
Another well-knOwn expert, Prof Law of Cor.
nell university, In the United States, writes.
I'm all cities and countries where rabies has
existed within a year, and in the counties ad.
joining them, every dog should be muzzIed ex.
cept when securely shut up or tied All DOGS
found at large without q muzzle should be
promptly shot by the police. The objection TO
muzzes is satisfactorily met by the use of the
wire muzzle, which impedes neither breathing
nor drinking"
II is to tins last sentence of Prof Laws that
we would especially direct attention. The
Widespread prejudice against muzzling is
only acquainted with the old-fashioned leather
mnzzle. Nothing, We admit, could be more
barbarous than the universal application OF
this instrument OF torture. It strangles the
Gog tniroat clamps his Jaws, prevents him
evaporation from the tongue by which the dog
In hot weather mainly gets rid Of his surplus
calor1c. To send . dog out In the heat of
summer with such an apparatus is about as
ana turn him into q Turkish bath; and we
should never have advocated the muzzle If
That were the only available form. But the
wire muzzle, which leaves dog free
hang out his tongue. is quite a dif!sre No
thing. 1T Is astonishing" said Mr.. Fleming.
"how soon dogs become accustomed TO an easv.
fitting, comfortable muxzle." There is no
cruelty whatever in the enforced use OF such an
appliances. The cruelty lies rather in letting
things alone, and leaving our dogs exposed ss
they now are to the bite OF the first rabid cur
THAT happens To cross their path.