Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-22
INTENT OF THE ORDER
Commissioner Proclamation Requir-
Ing Dogs to Be Muzzled.
AUTHORITIES WITHOUT DISCRETION
When Convinced Rabies Exist the
Acton imperative.
I II E \ + /. CTl.D DIST RIOT

IL L. ~ - u i. - y > Il y 4
Since the Issuance of their proclama ton
requiring dogs to be rnuzzied the District
commissioners have been in receipt of
numerous inquiries as to its meaning and
also have been In receipt of communtca-
tom IN wh!>h the writer's question both
their risht and propriety in making It. TINS
commissioners. however. were advised by
their attorney that by The provisions Of the
act OF Congress of 1875 1t is mandatory
on them to issue such a proclamation when
they have good reason to believe that
rabies exists in the District In other
words, their attorney told them, they have
no discretion IN the matter once they are
convinced that the disease exists here That
II does exist here they were assured by
both the Secretary of Agriculture and by
the District heath officer. The report of
the health officer to them on the subject
has already been published in The Star
ana the Commissioners today made pubic
the letter they received from the Secretary
OF Agriculture, informing them that rabies
Is IN existence here The Secretary wrote
them follows:
As 10 the existence of the disease (rabies
or hydrophobia) in the District of Column
ba, the evidence of this department Is
based upon tests made in the laboratory of
the bureau OF animal industry, which have
SHOWN the following unduubted cases of
rabies in dogs during the .'ear 1899: Janu-
airy >, March 49, April II, May ~, August
80, October u and 80, November =, i, 13 10
and ~. one each. and december 8. two a
total of fourteen cases.
'AS rabies is strictly a contagious disease
and does not develop except as a conse-
quence of inOcuiation from a pre-eXis ling
case of the disease it is evident that the
contagion has constantly existed in this
vicinity at least since October -, and the
increasing number Of cases which have
been brought to this department for exam
lnation indicates the extension of this con-
taSlOn.
In Maryland and Virginia.
The department has also received infor-
nation which it considers reliable of
number of cases of rabies in Montgomery
and Prince Georges counties, Maryland,
and in Alexandria and Fairfax counties,
Virginia. 1t is also reported that a num-
Der of persons have recently been bitten by
rabid dogs in the District. and under these
circumstances it was deemed wise to issue
an order giving notification of the existence
of the disease and making regulations to
prevent its being carried from Maryland
and Virginia into the District of Column
bia, and from the District into these states,
authorized under the act of Congress
approved May 20, 1884
Your kind offer to cooperate with the
department IS tu!ly appreciated, ana take
pleasure in sending you some copies Of the
order. and would request that the police
depar tmcnt be instructed to give notitiCa-
ton to persons coming into the District
from Maryland and Virginia with dogs, OF
the existence of the order and the require
ment that such dogs should be securely
muZzled when upon the streets or in any
public place. | would also request that
the District poundTaster be instructed to
give special ate nt.on TO dogs brought into
the District, and that in case of violation
of the departments regulation the animals
be seized. |; has not yet been decided TO
be necessary for this department TO equip
Il force with appliances for Selling dogs
brought into the District, and 1t would
yrobai,ly b. better for this TO he done by
the Dtstflcl pouiuH-astef. Inc departments
!llpnn7t' ~" 20 ~ go f H.
diseasa IN the adjoining counties and will
If rossihIe arrange for cooperation with