The Washington herald., 1910-08-08
Edict PleaSes the Bureau of
Animal Industry.
WOULD DANISH ALL SUSPECTS
DIR. +. c. Schroeder, superintendent
of Experiment Station, FavOrs
Putting to Death of the stray and
Homeless Canines-Dr. George II.
Hart Says Disease Is increasing.

when it is suggested that all dogs
should wear muzzles. said DR.. +. c.
superintendent Of the expert
ment station. in his circular on rabies,
"a great cry IS raised against the cruelty
Of the practice; and yet no one claims
that it is cruel 10 place a bit in horses
mouth, harness on his body 10 fasten
him 70 a wagon. or ploW or something
else TO pull, and to allow him 70 go only
where the driver directs without taking
into consideration the horses inclination
for direction or to go at all or TO stop.
1t is no more difficult TO accUstom
dog TO a muzzle than 10 break a horse
10 harness. and there is nothing cruel
about either practice.
a dog will, OF course, resent the
presence OF a muZzle until he becomes
accustomed 10 II. precisely as the horse
resents the presence Of harness on his
body and a bit I'm his mouth until he has
learned 10 wear them as quietly as most
horses do the world over In some por-
lions Of Europe dogs are required 70 wear
muzzles when they are not otherwise
restrained from biting. and they do 50
as naturally and quietly as horses wear
harness"
WouId XIII All Suspects.
DR. Schroeder not only believes in the
muzzling Of all dogs-he is dog owner
himself. but favors the prompt putting to
death Of stray, homeless CANNES, which
are largely responsible for the danger Of
rabies.
Or. George II. Hart. assis. ant in path
ology and bscterology. is an equally
strong advocate Of muzzllng He says
there is indlsputabIe evidence that the
disease, rabies or hydrophobia, Is increas-
ms in the United States. and. although
theoretically. one OF the most easily Grad
icated Of all diseases. there are well-uigh
insurmountable difficulties 20 contend
with
"All that is required 70 rid US OF the
scourge.' he says, lis the muzzling Of all
dogs for a few years" European coun-
tries have demonstrated that it can be
stamped out IN this manner
In a circular on Rabies. and It's IN
creasing Prevalence" GO lc9). issued two
years ago. but st'll widely circulated. Dr.
Hart said:
Terror 10 Human Beings
Many dog lovers cannot appreciate.
or are Indifferent to. the anxiety, mental
terror, and suffering Of several thousand
human beings in our country yearly, and
the actual death Of from 100 70 800 yearly.
not 20 mention the suffering and death
Of countless dumb brutes. But once a
dog-muzzling law is passed dog owners
are up in arms using their time, influence.
and money 10 secure its repeal or prevent
its enforcement on the ground Of alleged
cruelty
In reality there Is no cruelty whatever
inflicted on a dog by causing it TO wear a
muzzle when in public places or running
at large. The animals soon become used
to it and manifest not the slightest incon-
venience.
In the absence Of muzzling the disease
VIII continue year by year, causing con
stantiy increasing suffering. financial
loss. and death. The greater freedom Of
movement which the dog enjoys over all
other domestic animals, except possibly
the cat, makes # difficult OF tmprac-
ticable 10 control the disease by any
other means than general muzzling. How
is this 70 be accomplished? This ques-
ton seems 10 be almost insurmountable.
"A national dog-muzzIlng law is some
times proposed as solution. but the
power Of the federal government in dog
muzzling, as in other matters, would be
confined TO those cases where the inter-
state dissemination Of the disease is in
volved"
Discussing the practical value OF re-
pressive measures by other countries. he
said:
Prior 10 1875 rabies had been prev
alent in Berlin for many years. In that
year a law was enacted. including the
whole Of Prussia. which provided for the
killing Of dogs suspected Of having IA
bles. and the mUzzling and leading OF all
dogs when in public places. This led TO
the complete eradication Of the disease,
and no case has occurred in Berlin since
1883.
In Holland in 1915. rabies being quite
prevalent. dog muzzling was established.
The disease Immediately began TO disap-
pear and in 1873 only three cases were
reported, since which time the country
has been free from the disease, except
along the Belgian border.
IN Great Britain the value Of muzzling.
which was enforced in spite Of great pub
lie opposition. has been admirably demon
strated IN 1859 II was first adopted. and
the disease had almost disappeared by
1892 when the muzzling was stopped on
The disease Immediately began to in
crease, and in 1926 muzzling was again
enforced. The decrease In rabies was
immediate and marked. and since No
vember. 1899, the country has been en-
tireIy free from the disease.
In Sweden the value Of muzzling has
also been demonstrated. In fact, in all
cases where this measure has been ef-
fectually carried out the disease has been
completely controlled.
1.-THE disease has never been known in
Australia. This is due to the fact that
the infectious agent never gained a foot
hold in that country. and for a number
of years the government has wisely pre-
vented such an unfortunate occurrence
by laws which absolutely exclude the i'm
portation of dogs into that country.
I'm countries where steps have been
taken to exterminate rabid dogs-Hol-
land, Sweden, Norway, and Germany
rabies in man has almost disappeared.
In England. where the disease in dogs
has been eradicated. and in Australia,
where the affection has not been allowed
TO enter, the disease among the resi-
dents is unknown"
Dog Muzzling.
Editor The Washington Herald;