The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-07-30
MUZZLE THE DOGS
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
ISSUES A CIRCULAR.
Physicians Claim That the Only

Physicians Claim That the Only
Way 10 Prevent Rabies Is 10 Muz-
.zIe the Dogs.
The Columbia State says a dozen
or more dogs, supposed to have had
rabies, have been shot at the request
of their owners within the last ten
DAYS in that city. Three cows and 4
calf, which showed symptoms of"tne
same, have also been killed recedtl%
The police department has killed
tnCse Annals.
The type Of the disease which is
prevalent among the dogs this sum-
mer is dumb" rabies, called BLACK
tongue" by many persons. Few II
any cases of violent" or furious
rabies have been reported.
The dog muzzing ordinance which
recently went into effect was passed
by the city council for the express
purpose of exterminating rabies in
this city. The ordinance Was sub
iected, to severe criticism when 1t
was first passed, but it has met with
very general compliance on the part
of the owners OF dogs.
1t is claimed that muzzling is the
only way in which rabies, and con-
sequently hydrophobia, can be pre-
vented. A circular recently publish
ed by the bureau of animal industry
of the United States department OF
agriculture advocates strongly this
measure for the determination of the
dread disease.
The muzzling of dogs was widely
enforced in Europe a few years ago
and as result the disease has dis
appeared from tue countries enforc-
ing the law.
In regard to the use of the nluz-
zle on dogs and the consequent de-
crease in rabies, the circular issued
by the bureau of animal industry
says:
ITO prove the practical value of
these repressive measures, we have
only to observe the results obtained
in foreign countries. Prior to 1879
rabies had been prevalent In Berlin
for many years. In that year law
was enacted, including the whole OF
Prussia, which provided for the kill
ing of all dogs suspected of having
rabies, and the muzzling and leading
of all dogs when in public places.
This led to a complete eradication of
the disease, and no case had oc-
Cured in Berlin since 1888.
I'm Holland since 1875, rabies be-
ing quite prevalent, dog muzzling
was established. The disease imme-
diately began to disappear, and in
1873 only three cases were reported
since that time the country has been
free from the disease, except along
the Belgian border.
"In Great Britain the. value ol
muzzling, which has been enforced
in spite of great public opposition
has been admirably demonstrated
In 1889 it was first adopted, and
the disease had almost disappeared
by 1892, when the muzzling was
stopped on account of the determin.
ed opposition. The disease imme.
diately began to increase, and in
1895 muzzling was again enforced
The decrease in rabies was imme-
diate and marked, and since Novem-
Der, 1899, the country has been en-
tirely free from the disease.
In Sweden the value of muz-
zling has also been demonstrated. In
fact, in all cases where this measure
has been effectually carried out the
disease has been completely controll-
ed.
THE disease has never been
known in Australia. This is due to
the fact that the infections never
gained foothold in that country, and
for a number of years the govern
ment has wisely prevented such an
unfortunate occurrence by laws,
which absolutely exclude the impor-
tation of dogs into that country.
''In countries where steps have
been taken to exterminate rabid
dogs-Holland, Sweden, England,
Norway and Germany-rabies in
man has almost disappeared.
According to Dr.. Henry R. Slack
in The Journ nal-Record of Medicine,
hydrophobia is rapidly on the IN
crease in Georgia. The conclusions
reached by DR.. Slack are based on
the records of the Georgia Pastenr
institute. He writes:
when you consider the fact that
for four years (from 1900 to 1909
we only treated 237 patients, aud
that A Of them came from west OF
the Mississippi river, 80 from Ala
bama, "a from South Carolina, lis
(less than half from Georgia, and
that 4S9 we're treated in Georgia in
1908 and ass in 1909, after these
other States had established Pasteur
laboratories, the increase in rabies is
The average for the first
four years Of this decade was 59.a
while for the last two years it is
4S7.5 or an increase Of over S37 per