New-York tribune., 1907-08-26
Need of Taking All Possible Precautions to
Prevent It.

! To the Editor OF The Tribune
| Sir: 1t striking coincidence that so soon
after the appearance in your issue for July Fl OF
the article on THE Peril of Hydrophoba'' the
tragical death of Mr Roach should have furnished
confirmation Of what was discussed therein What
could have shown more emphatiCally than his fear
fu agony the extremely urgent necessity of ascer-
tanning at once. ir person is bitten by dog,
whether the animal is suffering from rabies? Had
the dog that bit Mr.. Roach been killed Immediately
examination would undoubtedly have shown the
victims critical condition and Pasteur treatment
! secured promptly would in all probability have
! saved his life.
This is another instance, too, showing the danger
of trusting to cauterizaton prevent the develop
ment OF the malady, treatment that so frequently
proves deceptive. encouraging hope until the dread
, symptoms appear. when death is inevitable, almost
without exception
No man. inspired by love of wife and children
Mr.. Roach was, could have fought with more
resOlIte determination against death. No one
could have had more able and energetic medical
talent resolved to the poor mans life if in
dcfatgable work and the most heroic treatment
could accomplish it. But all this and the eager
sympathy of those who knew OF the sad case
availed nothing. and a most horribly painful death
brought relief. after many hours Of awful suffer
ing VIII any cognizant Of the heart -rending
details Of Mr.. Roachs death contend that his
not of genuine hydrophobia?
\ while ago the veterinarian in charge of the So
tdIICu HOlneS 1Or NaRrdnt dogs conducted Dy lne
Chicago Anti-Cruelty Society. fanatiCal folly OF
a wasteful and senseless character DR. John J.
NIillar, V s.. made the astounding declaration that
If there We're only a few of hydrophObia.
among human beings that sufficient rea-
that the cruel and inhuman order muzzle
all dogs be carried into effect In that connection
he stated that John p. Haines. president of the
New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
Animals, had informed him that during the forty
years existence of that society there had not
been found single well established of rabies.
Others. too. in New York and Philadelphia, have
been quoted disputing the existence of such a
disease Mr.. Roach's terrible fate is the only
instance. by any means. Of similar death in New
York and Philadelphia hospitals which furnish un-
disputed proof of the untrustWorthiness Of such
assertions. emphaticalIy contradicted they are
by scores Of the most eminent physicians who have
been In attendance on the fated victims Even II
the disease 0e called by other name the fact
remains that death caused by the bite OF dog
suffering with what IS everywhere called rabies,
and that IS unanswerabe reason why dogs
should be kept muzzled the only course which can
secure public safety. That all such societies
are unmindful OF their duty 10 the people from
whom they nsk support is shown by the action Of
the Baltimore Society for the Prevention of Cru
city Animals. which in two months caught IF
teen hundred unlicensed and vagrant dogs and
! delivered them at the dog pound. Such worthy.
practical. humane work would be heartily approved
and generously supported in every city. but the
maudlin sympathy which shows higher regard for
brutes than for human beings deserves condemna-
tIon.
Is there a single one of these infatuated and
reckless champions OF dogs who would not rather
every dog IN the killed than have his wife,
child brother suffer such horrible death as
that of Mr. Roach? OF course not. Then why op-
pose the rigid enforcement Of the only law that
will prevent the likelihood of such shocking ca
lamity. 6 A BRABROOK.
Chicago Aug. IS. 1907.