The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-25

Two veterinary surgeons of the high
est standing have written to DR.. Allen,
superintendent of the bureau of health,
within the past week, notifying him
that rabies is becoming epidemic
among the dogs in the central
part of the city. AS a pre-
cautionary measure an order was is
sued yesterday by Director of Public
Safety +. l.. Wormser, directing the
police to 'summarily dispose of" or
in other words, shoot all dogs found on
the public streets without being mu2-
zled or held by chain.
The first letter received by Dr. Allen
came early last week from DR.. Jacob
Helmer, who reported an outbreak of
rabies in that part of the Seventeenth
ward bounded by Olive street, Clay
avenue, Gibson street and Jefferson
avenue. The doctor reported that one
dog in the vicinity of No. 33 school
was found suffering from the disease
and was killed. Another developing
symptoms of the disorder left its own
er's keeping and never returned.
The body of third dog. which was
kept under close observation until it
died. was sent to the laboratory of the
State Live Stock Sanitary Board in
Philadelphia for microscopic and bac-
THEOLOGICAL examination. The follow
ing telegram was received by DR.. Hell
mer:
Dr. Jacob Ilelrncr, 81 Spruce Street. scranton.
Examination Of dog head completed. CnQues-
tonaby rabies. Leonard Pearson.
The doctor reported that four dogs
are known to have been bitten by dogs
suffering from the disease but states
that it is impossible to tell the exact
number of canine victims as dog suf-
fering from rabies roams miles away
from home, biting other dogs and ami
mails.
PERIOD OF INCUBATION.
The period of incubation in dogs. the
doctor goes on to say, is on AN average
from twenty-one TO forty days. 1t
may be as short as six or seven days
and occasionally exceeds one hundred
days. Continuing the doctor writes:
There is no doubt but that more
than the number OF dogs which | have
mentioned are victims. In the face of
such an outbreak 1t becomes necessary
TO assume this to be the case in order
that every precaution may be taken,
1t Is plain that danger will exist not
less than sixty days, although practi-
cally it will disappear in about six
weeks.
FINALLY as to the control of the sit
uat0n, ! am not permitted to speak.
But in behalf of the safety of the peo-
pie and the protection of valuable dogs,
the idea OF publicity suggests itself as
defensive measure, Again, IL every
owner of dog would take the precau-
tion Of efficient muzzling during AN out
break, the spread of the disease would
soon be brought to an end. Authentic
statistics can he furnished to show
this. And whatever arguments may be
advanced against muzzling, the results
that have been obtained by it justify
its adoption wherever there is an out
break of canine madness"
The second letter was received yes
terday from DR., I'll, A. Paget, who re-
ports having had seven cases of rabies
in varied parts of the central city in
the past seven weeks, or more than he
has previously had in his six years
practice I'm this city. The doctor re-
ports that his diagnosis has been com
firmed in several of the cases by the
bacteriologst of the State Live Stock
Sanitary Board and by the assistant
bacteriologst of the New York city
board of health. He suggests the advis-
ability of ordering muzzling within the
city limits until such time as there is