The Washington herald., 1908-06-24

when the dog star Sirius rules the heav-
e:s for forty days and. according to
worl6-old belief. dogs with rabies will
run wild in the land This superstition.
vita many others sdear 10 the heart OF
many long since has been exploded by
science, for Sirius has no more to do with
kydrophobia than has any other bright
and friendly member of the sloereal
world The American Society for the
Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals. which
Is making a case for tho homeless dogs,
the pariahs of the animal worldwide are
put 90 death In greater numbers IN the
summer--declares that there is no greater
prevalence OF rabies IN summer than in
winter. Yet the fear remains, and pre-
caution is absolutely necessary IN guard
ing against the spread OF this most ter
dbie OF all diseases. a precautioh that
must be pracrced assiduously until this
enlightened American people learn that
the disease can be effectually stamped out
IN one way-by muzzling dogs for several
years.
Whenever the suggestion is made that
dogs be muZZled. or whenever a progressive
city enacts an ordinance to that effect
a storm Of protest goes up from dog own
ers and dog lovers over the inhumanity
of the practice. There is only one ques-
ton with which TO meet this: Is It not
better that members ot the dog family be
glven this slight discomfort in the few
hours they are on the street than have
three or s0ur little children or grown per
sons die IN the most horrible convulsions
known in the annals Of human suffering7
The majority Of European countries have
almost stamped out rabies by legislating
n 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 1876.
and since 1858 no case has been known in
Berlin, and the rest OF the country Is now
free from It. Holland has had no cases
since 1879. except such as occur along
the Belgian border.
Great Britain has had the same sentl-
mental kind Of folk to contend with in
the enforcement Of muzzling ordinances
as certain American sections have had.
That country ordered dogs muzzled IN
1889. and within three years the disease
had almost disappeared. Then the deter
mined opposition of misguided senti-
mentalists 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 the disease, and England proper,
with Australia. does not know the mean
ing flrabies among human beings. So
much for intelligent handling of n situa-
tiOn.
1t is TO such a plane Of intelligence and
cooperation that the United States gov
eminent. through its Bureau Of Animal
Industry Of the Department Of Agricul-
Jure hopes TO some day lift the 5000 900
people OF the nation. Certain districts in
this country have always been absolutely
free from the Infection, and others have
been known 10 have cases for years.
The largest area. according 10 a careful
census made under the direction OF the
American Kennel Club, Hes about fifty
miles south and west of Philadelphia.
Rabies began in a Philadelphia suburb in
1870. and I'm twenty years II spread out
20 such an extent that 200 cases were re-
ported. half of these being cOnfined-tO six
special places. A report before the Amer
lean Veterinary Medical Association last
year showed that hardly a county in
Pennsylvania was then free from rabies
and last summer It was necessary in
Chester County 70 destroy 154 dogs, q
COWS, and 10 horses, an expensive affair
20 say nothing Of the danger.
When the American Kennel Club made
its investigation ten years ago its special
lists reported that rabies was unknown in
the New England States north OF Massa-
chusetts and Rhode Island. with occa-
sional isolated cases in Massachusetts
and Connecticut. and very rare cases in
~a.~HH =.
sylvania was badly infected only in GER
tain districts notably about Philadelphia;
that there 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, Nebraska
Colorado, Oklahoma, and Kansas there
had been less than 100 all told and that
the disease was entirely unknown west
Of the Rockies.
Whether this report was inaccurate OF
whether the disease has become more
widely spread is not stated by the scien-
tlst OF more recent investigations. Yet
the latest report from the Department OF
Agriculture says conclusively: There is
abundant evidence TO warrant the state
ment that not a single State is free from
the disease" Specific instances Of the
spread Of rabies are cited, as in 1906 q
severe outbreak in Waterbury. Conn
where 10 dogs were destroyed and sew
eTal persons hurried 20 the Pasteur Hos
pital for treatment; In 1866 an outbreak
in Jacksonville, Fla, when / 200 dogs were
destroyed. and Of twelve persons bitter
three died Of hydrophobia; IN Indiana tho
State veterinarian reports more trouble
from rabies than from any other in
4 III
the disease among its dogs and cattle
and among a few people. for five years
and Charleston, w Va. recently re-
ported an outbreak
The District of Columbia. knowing that
tho eyes Of all the nation are turned that
way in search Of n good example. has
during the present year waged persistent
warfare on the pariah dogs. the great
unwashed' Of the dog world The Law
requires the licensing Of dogs, and the
upper tendon Of dogdom goes about with
tags on its collars. and often with leashes
safely held IN the hands OF careful own.
ers; but from Virginia and Maryland
waits and strays, members Of the tramI
Kingdom, smell from afar the incense
from Thousands of kitchens and stray
into Washington. 10 become the legal
prey Of the vgilant dog catcher. The dos
catcher has been overworked so far. and
since January 80 over 2250 Of these tramp
dogs have been put TO death. OF these
eighty-six we're found 10 have rabies. the
bodies OF suspects having been sent 10
the Bureau OF Animal Industry for labora-
tory examination. Because the epidemic
has Increased and human life been greatly
endangered. the authorities are ordering
the muZzling oS all licensed dogs and tho
immediate execution OF all unlicensed
ones. The President has taken the mat
ter up, and this has brought an added in
terest 70 the situation.