The Washington times., 1908-06-24
DEATH DEMANDED
OF VICIOUS" Dogs
Commissioners Will Fix a
Standard for Judging
Animals.
LAW INSUFFICIENT,
THINKS SYLVESTER
Dislikes Necessary Recourse TO
Court Before Offending Canine
May Be Killed.

1T think that our present law IS un-
fortunately insufficient, in that 1t does
not permit the Immediate destruction
of vicious dogs without awaiting the
action Of the court"
The above Endorsement is made. by
Major Sylvester, on communication
from L. X. Henpel, of > Sixth street
mort beast In this letter. which was
written before the regulation requiring
the Tnuzzling OF dogs went into effect,
Mr. Henpel says:
within the past ten days mad
dog was killed by a druggist re ding
two blocks from me- The dog snapped
at every one il came in contact with
Last night a little girl on our block
vas bitten by a dog. and the father, IN
attempting 10 get the child away, was /
badly bitten also. IN view Of the fact /
that our children must be taken on the
streets at night, ask cannot something \
be done TO relieve us of the dread /
that they may be bitten by dog?"
Court Must Sanction.
Under the present law, permission |
from the judges of the Police Court /
must be obtained IN order that a dog /
may be destroyed. Heretofore, the |
court has ruled that It must be shown |
that the dog in question has bitten at |
least two persons in order to establish |
that il IS a vicious animal
Commissioner AIacfarland said today !
that he believed that the law might be
changed in this respect. as there may
he instances in which II Is cOnclusively
proved that the dog is vicious without
The evidence that it has bitten two per
sons.
Mr. ATacfarland has recommended
that the Commissioners hold a confer
ence with q view OF determining just
what constitutes a vicious dog, and the
means to be adopted of Riding the city
Of such animals.
Examines Two Bodies.
The Bureau of Animal Industry has
received from the District pound the
bodies Of two dogs that were killed
after biting children in the northeast
and the northwest sections Of the city
yesterday
one. a black and tan dog. bit George
Watson. eight years old, 1916 East Cap
itol street, on the left foot, and Milton
FORESTER. seven years old, 1861 East
Capitol street, on the left leg.
This other, a white female dog, the
property OF Mrs Joseph Sabbs, 952
Tweuty-fourth street northwest bit
Ralph Radley. eight years old, go Twen-
ty-fou-th street northwest on the leIt
The dogs will be subjected to a mi
crOscopic test to determine whether
they mad the rabies
Children Are Bitten.
A dog belonging to Mrs. +. Matthews,
of 250g Seventeenth street northwest,
which was at large without muzzle,
bit Howard Vail. nine years old, I103
Euclid street northwest, last night The
wound was Immediately caUterized by
physician.
dog belonging u Donald Pollock,
1923 Irving street northeast, which also
was running at large without a muzzie.
bit Frank Scagnelh. 1906 Ei6hth street
northwest, on the left leg as ne was
crossing a vacant lot near the Union
Station. about $50 O'Clock yesterday az
ternoOn- ScagnelH was given Immediate
treatment az a nearby drug store.
Apply for Treatment.
As the great convenience and economy
of the treatment for rabies is being ad-
ministered at the Hygienic Laboratory,
Twenty-fourth and E street northwest,
becomes generally known, the citizens
of Washington are applying for treat
Institute at Baltimore.
Dr. Arthur NJ Stimson, In charge OF
the Pasteur treatment at the HYGIENE
Laboratory, said today that six new
patients had applied for treatment last
week, and that two new ones had been
added to the list this week.
The treatment at the Hygienic Labor
atoiy IS the same as that given by all
Pasteur Institutes. and is administered
without charge, the only condition be-
ing that the patient have a letter from
the District Health officer stating the
necessity Of the treatment being given.
Dogs Head Received.
The Bureau of Animal Industry has
received by express from DR.. Fred
Gochrauer. Of UTpperville, Va, the head
OF a dog that was killed after having
terrurized the neighborhoOd, and bit
a number of dogs.
This dog was one Of a pack of hounds
belonging to the Piedmont Hunt Club
The physician reports that the dog by
his actions gave every indication OF
being rabid. on Saturday he wandered
all over the country. and bit every dog
ne came IN contact with. He bit al
least ten dogs in the little village OF
Upperville. Just before being killed
he made two desperate attempts 20 bite
his master. Another dog of the same
pack was also killed IN an adjoining
neighbOrhoOd.
DR.. Gochnauer states that all dog
in the jurisdiction Of the township hav,
been ordered either put up or muzzled
pending the result OF the microscopic
examination OF the dogs head sent t.
the bureau. lie concludes his letter az
follows.
Il hear this morning more OF thi,
pack OF hounds are at this time devel
Oning symptoms of rabies. This trOublt
affects our whole section OF country
here. and I am taking every pTeCautiOI
TO protect our people and their stock
Kindly give me any suggestions as q
any protective measures you may thinl
best"