Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-15
TO MINIMIZE DANGER
President May Act Regarding
Rabies in the District.
CALLS FOR INFORMATION
Commissioners Explain Increase in
the Pound Service.
VISITING DOGS NOT WANTED
Statement of Reasons for Not Issu-
ing Nuzzling order-Re-
! port Giving Statistics.
CALLS FOR INFORMATION
VISITING DOGS NOT WANTED

As a result of information received from
the bureau of animal industry through
Secretary Wilson of the Department OF
Agriculture. to the effect that the preva-
lence of rabies or hydrophobia has in
creased to an alarming extent in the Dis
trict recently, President Roosevelt has
asked the Commissioners of the District
for information on the subject. with spe-
cial reference to what they have done in
the matter. He; has indicated personal
interest in the reports of the prevalence
OF rabies in the District. and while he il
not expected TO do more at present than
inform himself. il is probable he will.
upon receipt of the Commissioners re-
port. suggest measures which VIII MIMI
mize the danger.
The Commissioners replied to the PRESS
dent that they have increased the dog
pound service by an additional wagon and
extra laborers, with the result that since
the first of the year 2.275 dogs have been
pairriessly. put to death at the pound
which number is far in excess OF any for
mer similar period. They also state that
In view of reports received in May of In
creasing numbers of dogs coming from
Maryland and Virginia they ordered
third pound wagon June 2. which will
soon be put in service.
The Commissioners hold the method de-
scribed is far more practical and effective
against hydrophobia than the proposition
to muzzle the dogs.
As to Muzzling Order.
Ihe Commissioners have stated repeat
eddy that their reason for not issuing a
muzzling order was the experience had
with SUCH an order issued by a former
board of Commissioners in December.
1899. and in force for six months. when it
was so apparent that it was not an eff
fective way Of dealing with the matter
that 1t was not renewed. That was the
only time In all the many years since
the Commissioners were authorized to is
sue such an order that they did So The
experiment having been failure, even
though the then board of Commissioners
pressed 1t as vigorously as possible. 1t
was thought inadvisable to renew 1t, espe-
cially as the belief of the Commissioners
IL that whatever rabies among dogs there
may be in the District of Columbia is due
primarily to the constant incursions of
other unlicensed dogs. which would not in
any event be muzzled and that the most
effective way of dealing with the matter
Is by capturing and destroying the I'M
licensed dogs. which may bite the licensed
dogs.
AN examination of the death records
IN the health department shows that there
has been no death from hydrophobia in
Mary johnson. colored. was reported to
have died Of that disease at Freedmen's
Hospital.
Suggestions to Owners.
Commissioner Macfarland suggests to
owners that they keep their dogs on their
own premises, or keep them in leash when
they take them on the, streets. and that
they aid In every way in the apprehen-
sion Of unlicensed dogs. He suggests to
citizens generally that they discourage
sensational fumors, that they remember
that most dogs called mad are not so at
all. and also that nervous people may
work themselves into a simulated hydro
phobia by dwelling upon its symptoms
and becoming unduly excited.
The information regarding the increased
prevalence of rabies in this city was
furnished Secretary Wilson by Dr. A. D.
Melvin. chief of the bureau of animal in
dustry Of the Department of Agriculture.
In a statement prepared by him 1t Is
shown that since January l last forty
three persons and twenty-five animals
were bitten by sixtry-three dogs received
at the bureau from the District of Co
lumbia and vicinity. which have been
microscopically examined on suspicion of
having rabies. The examination of these
sixty-three dogs showed forty-seven cases
of positive rabies. six negative of the
disease and ten undetermined. awaiting
the results or rabbit NEGOTIATIONS.
DR.. Melvin further contends that there
have been at least thirtynine cases of
rabies which have been typical that
the practitioners have mot deemed it
necessary to submit the carcasses to the
animal industry bureau for confirmation
of their diagnoses.
submitted to the Commissioners today
through the health ofifcer, shows that
during the week ended last Saturday 227
dogs were captured and 2O2 of them put
to death. The report also shows that 14s
cats were impounded. During the pre-
cedinx week 90 dogs were impounded