El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-26

were captured. and in the same yess
Inere were S4b cases of hydrOphob1a-
From that time until 1908 the annual
varied from 10000 to 5000, and the
number Of cases Of hydrophobia di-
rninished. from 34s to So. Sincs 1908
only 5000 per year because these peo-
pie have learned that the law is to be
strictly enforced all the time. and not
capr1cIously). and last year the num-
Der of cases of hydrophobia was re-
duced TO Il. In 1901 222 persons were
bitten by dogs in Paris; in 1904. 81; in
Capture VaErant Dogs
The fact that a persistent enforce
ment of the law by the capture of
every vagrant dog. is the cause OF
clearly proved by the experiences Of
seine other French towns where the
authorities have been negligent, for il
is not everywhere in France that they
do these things better than elsewhere
In places where the law is not strictly
enforced there has been an increase
of hydrophoDia, and, since the danger
is reflected upon the capital through
the contracting of hydrophobia by the
dogs which the Partisan lovers Of ca
nine companions take into the country
with them, the authorities in Paris are
calling upon the other municipalities
everywhere to enforce the law as rig
orously as they do. If this IS done
and il is not unlikely to be done, Il
seems certain that the dog danger
throughout all France will be reduced
to a minimum
The extent Of the evil to be COM
bated is shown by the simple fact
that the registered canine population
of France is no less than 5,S00,00Oi
That means about one dog for every 10
men. women and children
do not know the dog population
of the United States, but at least hope
it is less than that of France II, IN
fortunately, it is prOportionately as
then r0ffGf have q nm 000
dogs
But at any rate. the French authori-
ties, and particularly those OF Paris,
have shown Us how the nuisance and
the danger may be effectually dealt
with I remember that, many years
ago, when there was much public ex-
catching service was organized II
New York which produced a rapid oe-
crease in the number of street wan
dsring dogs as long as It was enforced
But who sees any capturing of dogs
in New York now2 When left the city
a few weeks ago I know that Brook
Again and again I saw men and women
making a pTetense OF leading out their
dogs with leashes, but releasing then
and letting them run as soon as they
turned the corner. UnmuzZled dogs II
the street were a common sight
Have our wise aldermen abrogatec
the dog ordinances, or is the trouble
simply that no official takes the
pains to enforce thern2 Here is a gOoc
subject for a letter by Mr.. Gaynor. IT
the meantime children are bitten and
tern by dogs, and the danger from
hydrophobia is allowed to increase
No Use Any More.
And what IS the use OF dog. any
how? When men lived by hunting they
had some general usefulness. In the
Country, and in the hunting field. they
still serve a certain purpose But their
supposed usefulness as guardians has
been vastly exaggerated, for every thief
knows a hundred ways to still a dog
In the city they are neither useful nor
ornamental Idle rich people may find
some amusement for empty brains by
dressing up dogs in silks and ribbons
or teaching them TO sit a the table. But
is a richly dressed woman leading 6
couple Of conbed. blanketsd and Wad-
ding dogs by strings that get entan-
gled with the legs Of passersby. WHO
have something better TO do. an en-
coura ging spectacle for those who be-
lieve in the upward progress Of man
kind2 Are her charms increased by
her barking companions