The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-07
Protest Against Mur1IIng.

But this is not all. Vivisecdonists. as
well as NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. are protesting
vigorously against the muzzling edict-
Many OF them see no necessity for H.
They think the scare unfounded; the
remedy cruel.
On the other hand, the number OF
cases Of rabies-nOt developed. but feared
now under treatment cOnvinces the aU-
thorities that stern. heroic action is de-
manded in the interest OF the public
welfare Then there are people who
would Danish every dog from the city
not allow a single canine in the city.
They argue that the dog Is a nuisance
and utterly useless in the city. and that
Washington should have none Of him.
Not Moved by HySterin.
Il is earnestly diseIaimed that the
Bureau Of Animal Industry. which ad-
vocates muzzling and is behind tho
edict. has been moved by hysteria.
The fact IS pointed out that the on
Gals CT the Public Health and Marine
Hospital Service. who are a very high
authority in such matter. also adTO-
cate muzzling. and that practically all
public health authorities throughout
the world who have given any special
study to the subject agree that muz-
cling IS the only effective method Of
suppressing rabies
J The circumstances leading up 10 the
muzzllng order Of 1908 were about as
follows:
] Secretary Wilson at a Cabinet
meeting mentioned to President Roose-
Welt the Increasing and alarming
prevalence of rabies" The President
was Interested He directed that one
Of the departments experts be sent 10
tell him more about the situation. DR..
Mohler. Chief Of the Pathological Dr.
vision OF the Bureau Of Animal In
dustry. and one of the foremost au-
thorities on animal pathology in this
country. went 10 the White House and
was questioned by Mr.. Roosevelt who
showed great concern at the facts re-
ported TO him and pounded his desk
with his fist In his characteristics
fashion.
The President spoke especially OF the
danger TO the children who would soon
be out OF school and would then spend
more OF their time in the streets. and
thus be more exposed to rabid dogs. He
inquired as TO the law on the subject. and
then asked the District Commissioners
II there was any good reason for not
enforcing the Law by requiring the muz-
cling of dogs. Not being satisfied that
there was such reason. ne directed thai
the muzzling order be issued.
Mandatory I'm Provisions.
The law is mandatory in its provisions,
requiring the Commissioners to issue a
? muzzling order whenever the fact Is as
certained that rabies is prevalent in the
District The result OF cooperative IN
vestigations by the District health Of
, fcer and the Bureau OF Animal Industry
was reported to the Commissioners. yet
they took no steps to carry out the Law
until the big stick was shaken al
them. Perhaps they did not have The
funds or the facilities to render a muz
= cling order effective without negleetine
other things that they considered more
= important. and perhaps this view wa,
REINFORCED by Commissioner Macfar
lands well-known sentiments regarding
animals.
This rabies problem is really ques
, ton Of whether children or dogs arr
i, entitled to the most consideration. salt
I gentleman deeply interested in III
! subject. Those whose hearts bleed a
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