Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-02
TO STAMP OUT RABIES
Only Effective Method of Protection,
DR.. Woodward Believes.
MANY PERSONS ARE BITTEN
Twenty-Four Cases Under Treat
ment at Hygienic Laboratory
During Past Month.

MuZZleS Will be ordered on all dogs
in the District of Columbia for one year.
This action will be taken Thursday morn
ing at a meeting of the Commissioners
and acting commissioners. DR.. Wood
ward has recommended this course, and
states that the six months muZzling is,
and has been, ineffective Sufficient time
the right kind Of muzzle.
1t is believed that by this drastic meas
ure rabies will be practically wiped out
of the District of Columbia The mat
ter has been discussed by members of
the health officers staff and the conclu-
sion reached is that there is no other way
of protecting the community from being
bitten by dogs.
Poundmaster Einstein said to a Star
reporter today that nine out of every
ten of the dogs taken to the bureau of
animal industry suspected of rabies in the
last month have been dogs with tags.
Pet Dogs Have. Rabies.
'HThe idea that it is only the stray dogs
that have rabies is entirely wrong he
said. THE pet dogs have it now in
larger numbers than the homeless ones,
for the reason that there are very few
stray dogs We have collected about all
the stray and untagged dogs in the
city"
The suggestion that the muzzling edict
could be eliminated or put off until a
later date was made yesterday by a dog
lover, who held that emergency wagons
used to collect all dogs running loose
might be put into action. The health
officer and his assistants believe that the
only thing to do, however, is to muzzle
every dog with a sensible humane muz-
zle. A memorandum prepared by DIR.
Woodward covering the question of muz-
zles reads as follows:
'Muzzling must be effective or it will
afford no protection to the dog against
being tmpOunded, or to the owner of the
dog against fine or imprisonment for let
ting his dog run at large. The law re-
quires substantial muZzles securely put
on SO as to prevent the dog from biting
or swapping.
Dealers are advised against stocking
up with fake muzzles and dog owners
are advised against buying such muzzles.
since to do SO means merely trouble and
loss for all concerned
Many Cases of Disease.
In letter to Commissioner Johnston
Dr. Woodward outlines the facts which
| have led him to recommend that all
dogs wear muZzles for year. He shows
that in 1906 two cases of rabies were
discovered; in 1907, ten cases; in 1908,
eighty-four cases; in 1909. forty-three
cases, anu So far this year, twenty
nine cases. He shows that in July of
each year cases are discovered very fire.
quently. OF the present year he says:
with respect, however, to the returns
for the month of July of the current
year it must be borne in mind that
definite reports have not yet been re-
ceived from the bureau of animal in
dustry concerning the existence of rabies
in such animals as were sent to that
bureau for examination during the last
days of the month, SO that the above
figures, so far as relates to the month
named, may be slightly increased
During the past month there have been
under treatment at the hygienic labora-
tory, public health and marine hospital
service. twenty-four persons bitten by
rabid dogs.
Reasons for Order.
In view of the fact that rabies occurs
only as it is transmitted from animal to
animal, in view further of the practically
continual existence Of the disease in the
District, and in view OF the habltS OF
mad dogs and of the known fact that
some have recently been at large, it is in
my judgment certain that mad dogs are
almost continuously present in this Dis
trict-that is, dogs that are either in the
incubatory or active stage of rabies or
hydrophobia.
I'm view of the facts set forth above,
/ respectfully recommend that under
authority of section Z of an act to create
revenue in the District of Columbia
by levying tax upon all dogs therein, to
make such dogs personal property, and
for other purposes. approved June ID.
1873 the Commissioners issue proclama-
ton requiring that dogs shall, for
period of one year. next, following the
date of the order. wear a good and sub
stantial muzZe securely put on, SO as to
prevent them from biting or swapping.
1T is recommended that this proclama-
ton cover d period of one year, in view
of the failure of the siX-month muZ-
zling in 1908 to substantially eradicate
rabies from the District. and, moreover,
in view of the fact that a dog bitten
brior to the issue OF the siX-mOnth proc
lamation may not develop rabies until
after the expiration of that period.