New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THE PERIL OF HYDR0PH0BIA.
Why Every Precaution Against the Disease
Should Be Taken.
To the Editor OF The Tribune

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. II was announced recently that a police
man. John Delaney. Of New York City was nl'-
ten by a dog that It had been decided should be
confined for two weeks. and II meantime he died
from rabies then 10 Mr.. Delaney would be given
Pasteur treatment The period of incubation In a
dog is sometimes Iong as four or FIVE months.
Or. Austin Peters. Of Boston. a man or abllty ana
long experience, who has authority TO order dogs
muzzled the whole state. overruing local ohl-
cals II they oppose that protective measure. men
lions several instances where dogs that had been
exposed kept in quarantine for ninety days
then released safe. and four five weeks later
developed rabies. doing great harm before being
killed.
Persons have died from nydrophobia In two
weeks from the time they were bitten. a notable
instance being that OF the son OF Or. Loomis. of
New York city bitten by his own pet spaniel. that.
when being led along the street. sprang at a
French poodle led by stranger they met The
dogs were quickly drawn apart and attention
given 10 the circumstance until the spaniel bit
his young master. A test showed the dog was
rabld and the best treatment obtanable including
the PasIeur system, provided but the lad died
IN two weeks from what the eminent physicians
in attendance declared was viruent case of by
drophObiH
1t will be seen by this that Mr.. Delaney. consid-
cred not in danger because the dog perhaps shows
symptoms. may wait until he Is beyond hope,
, which - almost without exception the case when
| the dreaded symptoms have appeared, and die
| from hydrophobia months before the dog that bit
| him pronounced rabid
| When a dog simply acts in an unusual manner
| IL may nc well Ccnfue him 10 ascertain whether
| this is due TO some temporary ailment. but II he
has been exposed, and particularly II he has bit
! ten any one, no chance should be taken and he
/ should be killed At BY examination Of
/ the brain It be told promptly whether rabies
/ is present, and. If SO. the necessary course for
/ the victim Is obviously at to secure treat
mcnt- No dog can be valuable attach
/ ment for him be such TO warrant taking any
! risk whatever for human being. Not all the dogs
/ IN thristendom worth the life of person.
/ the most infatuated champion of the brutes Will
/ admit IN respect to member OF his own family.
/ Were the real danger from hydrophObia the horri-
/ Die character OF a death from this most terrible
| Of Al! diseases and the widespread prevalence OF
/ the ma!ady-appearinS as it did in Twenty-Five
states .ast year-kept prominently before the p@o
| pie. public sentiment would enphatically deulard
/ that the dog muzzlins law he rigidly enforced
! and every dog not rendered harmless by this means
! be destroyed.
| The law in Chicago requires dogs to be muz-
/ zled all the year through under penaIrv ~ re
: owners arrest and Il fine up to $40 This. although
not thoroughly enforced all over the city as IL Ger
tainy ought to be, has changed Chicago from
! pelhS the most dangerous city in America. with a
: record of deaths from hydvophobia reported as
hsh as twenty IN one year. 10 the safest large city
/ now in the whole country. The warming Of a noted
"IlteF mas application everywhere: An stray dogs
! should d" destroyed. along with unlicensed ,loSs
ana those permitted To run at large without ni,iz-
! %'eS' II IL SHai'etuI and scandalOUS that public
| safety should he ieopard.zed when the remedy is
! perfectly obvious and available
! Even II there never had been a case Of hydro
! phobia the frequent reports of persons partjcu-
/ larry children. mauSled by vicious dogs ana often
! disiigured for life make il Imperative tb. -
zing law should be enforced IL is a n1o,str.,s
| outrage that people should constantly be f., psril
! because Il very small minority who own docs-Dot
| one IN twenty -tve-Claim Uurestrained liberty for
what although called by them mans best friend .,
are IN reality the most dangerous Of all domestic,
animals, and as class the most worthless a rri,i
hke not allowed Ia any other animal owners nf
an others being compelled 10 keep them upon tbet,
own premises. " ''
Never before has hydrophobia been So widely
prevalent never before have there been So MANI.
patients al the Pasteur Institutes under treatment
ana never before has the situation So urgently de-
IndI''eu "clou by the general government To mo
- Piutt''io" aH over the United States as has
neeh zone IN Great Britain and Germany for a
long while. 'S i'' d
commenting HE enforcement Of the Chiraso do,
mems NV 1T George Shears president ~
zimmerman Medical College widely known sur
geoh said; "Hydrophobia is a disease So LnrriIi,
III character so fatal in result and SO cor,nara
i!Vely frequent that every effort IN rre-art a,
, should nave the support of all good citizens "
Chicago. July 10 1907