Los Angeles herald., 1908-06-25

terrible OF all diseases, precaution
that must be practiced assiduously un-
til this enlightened American people
learn that the disease can be effect
ually stamped out in one way-by muz-
cling dogs for several years.
Whenever the suggestion that dogs
be muzzled, or whenever, a progressive
city enacts an ordinance to that effect,
q storm OF protest goes up from dog
owners and dog lovers over the inhu-
manity Of the practice. There Is only
one question with which to meet this:
1t Is not better thta members OF the
dog family be given this slight discom-
fort In the few hours they are on the
street than have three or four little
children or grown persons die In the
most horrible commissions known In the
annals Of human suffering? The ma
jority of European countries have al
most stamped out rabies by legtslating
iE an intelligent manner against IT.
They require the killing of suspected
dogs and the muzzling OF those that
appear on the streets. Prussia began
this work In 1875 and since 1888 no case
has been known In Berlin, and the rest
of the country Is now free from 1t.
Holland has had no cases since 1879. ex-
cept such as occur along the Belgian
border.
Great Britain has had the same senti-
mental kind of folk to contend with 10
the enforcement Of muzzling ordi-
nances as certain American sections
have had. That country ordered dogs
muzzled in 1889, and within three years
the disease had almost disappeared.
Then the determined opposition Of mis-.
guided sentimentalists prevailed and
the law was set aside. The disease
spread In the next three years In an
alarming fashion. Then muzzles again
became the fashion and since 1899 Great
Britain has been free from disease. ana
England proper, with Australia, does
not know the meaning Of rabies among
human beings. So much for intein-
gent handling Of situation.
II is to such plane Of intelligence
and cooperation that the United states
government, through its bureau or AMI
mai Industry of the department OF ag-
riculture, hopes to some day lit the
10000. 900 people Of the nation. Cer-
tain districts in this country nave al
ways been absolutely free from the IN
fection and others have been known to
have cases for years. The largest area.
according to a careful census made
under the direction OF the American
Kennel club, lies about fifty miles south
and west of Philadelphia Rabies be-
gan In a Philadelphia suburb IN 1917
and In twenty years 1t spread out 10
such an extent that 200 cases were re-
ported. half of these being connned 20
sig special places. A report before the
American Veterinary Medical associa-
ton last year showed that hardly q
county In Pennsylvania was then free
from rabies, and last summer 1t was
necessary in Chester county to destroy
154 dogs, twenty-five cows and ten
horses, an expensive affair. to say
nothing of the danger.
When the American Kennel club
made its investigation ten years ago
it's specialists reported that rabies was
unknown In the New England states
north of Massachusetts and Rhode
Island. with occasional isolated cases
in Massachusetts and Connecticut and
yerv rare cases in New York and New
Jersey; that Pennsylvania was badly
infected only In certain districts, no.
was little proof of its existence In the
southern states or in the majority of
the states east of the Mississippi: that
in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Me-
braska. Colorado, Oklahoma and Kan
sas there had been fewer than 100 all
told, and that the disease was entirely
unknown west OF the Rockies.
whether this report was inaccurate
or whether the disease has become
more widely spread Is not stated by
the scientist of more recent fnvesttga-
tions Yet the latest report from the
department Of agriculture says con-
clusively: "There is abundant evil
dence to warrant the statement that
not a single state is free from the
disease" Specific instances of the
spread of rabies are cited, as, in 1905. a
severe outbreak in Waterbury. Conn.,,
where 175 dogs were destroyed and
several persons hurried to the Pasteur
hospital for treatment; In i90b-6 an
outbreak in Jacksonville, Fla, when
1900 dogs were destroyed, and of twelve
persons bitten three died Of hydro
phobia; in Indiana the state veter-
marian reports more trouble from
~--ll.e 4ho "A frorra my aflaar irfecfialI