The Washington times., 1908-06-12
PCLndmaster EinStein Has
Force Watching Closely
for Stray CANNES.
MANY REQUEST
KILLING OF PETS
Disease No More Prevalent at
This Time Than in Pre-
viouS Years.

In an effort to stamp out the epidemic
Of rabies that has threatened to assume
dangerous proportions in the District,
POundmaster Samuel Einstein has had
his dog catchers working overtime for
the last two weeks. The result is that
Washington today Is practically free or
unlicensed dogs, and II an epidemic of
the disease should develop. IT, viii be
among the dogs with tags. according to
a statement made by Mr.. Einstein this
morning
Rabies Is a disease that can not de-
velop in a dog" said Mr. Einstein today.
The animal must become iEoculated
from a bite by a dog that is affected.
There is no danger of a dog going mad
unless Il has been attacked by another
dog that Is mad"
Since Monday, l82 stray dogs have
been taken to the pound by the cog
catchers. Of this number. 120 have peer
killed. and three OF the animals brains
have been sent 10 the Bureau of Ami
nal Industry for microscopic examine
ton. Mr.. Einstein says that while the
reports Of the bureau indicate that there
is an unusually large number or dogs
affected with rabies, the dogs at the
pound have. with few exceptions. show
ed no signs Of being mad. and from his
observation rabies is no more prevalent
at this time than in previous years. He
adds, however, that 1t is impossible TO
determine whether a dog is suffering
from the disease until its brain is ex-
amined by experts.
Owners Want Pets Killed.
During the last month more persons
have requested the poundmaster TO get
their dogs than in the six months prior.
One wagon has been required constantly
. to look after this end Of the poundmas-
ter's work. and at least a dozen dogs
have been chloroformed every day at
the request Of the owners.
The brains of all dogs that have at
tackled persons are being sent 10 the
Bureau OF Animal Industry as soon as
the case is reported, and the healJh
department is assisting in every possible
way 10 prevent any danger OF an cpl
demic Of rabies.
Now that the Marine Hospital. Twen-
ty-fourth and Z streets, is equipped Tor
treating cases Of supposed rabies by
the Pasteur method, II is not necessary
for persons bitten by dogs to go TO the
Pasteur Institute IN Baltimore 10 taka
the treatment to prevent any possibility
of the disease developing. the treat
ment is free, and as soon as case is
son - instructed TO go 10 the Marine
HOSPITAL Several cases are now under
treatment at the hospital and the doc
tors say the results obtained are hghIy
satisfactory.
Seven Dog Catchers at Work.
Seven dog catchers are being employed
in different sections Of the city from
early in the morning until late at night
Two wagons are used to carry the ami
mails to the pound. Mr.. Einstein is max
ing a personal investigation Of all cases
where persons have been bitten.
The lot of the dog catcher Is not an
easy one and the men who are doing
this work are not only obliged to put
in long hours, but must put up with
many annoying features. While the
public generally realizes tn At il is nee
essary that all stray dogs must be cap
tured and taken to the pound, there are
many. persons not in sympathy with the
movement to capture them, and in the
crowd that almost invariably gathers
when the men get their nets out, there
are some people who assert that the
dog catchers are inhuman in their treat
ment of the animals.