Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-01-12
COMMUNICATIONS.
HYdrOphObia.

To the Editor Of the JOURNAL COURIER:
In many parts of the country there is al
the present time prevalent feeling of alarm
in regard to this dread disease. When WE
consider the many deaths that are occurring
every year in this country from hydrephobis
caused by the bite of dogs afflicted with this
malady, and realize the peculiar suffering at
tending this terrible disease, the danger we
are encountering from this cause should i'm
press on our minds the Importance of doing
whatever we can to mitigate this great evil.
OF the owners and those who profess to think
so much of dogs could witness the horrible
and agonizing scenes of death-bed resulting
from hydrophobia there would be a great
change in their feelings and sentiments.
Even the i'll effect on the imagination by the
gloomy forebodings that many persons ex-
perience who are bitten by dogs which at the
time are free from the disease should so in
fuence the public mind as to impel us to re-
strain the evil without delay.
Then again in many cases of sickness, and
especially where the disease is attended with
much nervous depressions, I am convinced
that the patients are often injured and their
recovery to great extent prevented by the
barking and bowling of dogs in the neigh
borhood. We feel assured by the nature
and progress of the disease that if this noise
could be remedied they would soon recover
possibility to abate the nuisance.
Many will inquire why not demonstrate
with the owners? I wish I could describe the
usual reception of those who sometimes
perhaps very mildly-venture to expostulate,
or attempt to explain to the owner of the
dog the trouble the animal is causing. /
doubt if you can in more ready way arouse
his i'll feeling toward you, and even in many
cases it is quite hazardous even to question
the excellent traits of his ''dorg.'
Again, the expense of feeding them. I
often wonder if people realize the expense
which in the aggregate is enormous-of feed
ing the hundreds of dogs kept in this city.
This expenditure and waste-for it is a waste
if saved and used rightly would sustain
many poor families.
Many of our attractive streets are made
unpleasant and disagreeable because some of
the residents will persist in keeping these
animals. This being the state of things in
the otherwise pleasant portions of the city,
we know it is much worse in the crowded
and poorer streets; for it is generally con-
ceded that the more wretched and vicious the
neigh borhood there we find the greater num-
ber of dogs. 1t is sad feature of humanity
that the habits and practices which mill ate
against the prosperity and best interests of
mankind are more likely to be adopted by
the poorer classes.
have no doubt that most persons of good
and impartial judgment, when they consid-
er the injury, annoyance and many evils
which are caused, will admit that the nu-
merous dogs kept are not only misfortune
to the people of this city, but with few ex-
ceptions are of no practical use or benefit to
the people. Furthermore, think the major
ity of the citizens of New Haven would be
glad to have a stringent dog law-as near
prohibitory as possible-not only enacted,
but enforced in this oity.
We also must bear in mind that human
nature is such that stringent law is required
in many cases; besides, these laws should be
sustained by healthy public opinion or
they will fail to accomplish their object.