Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-12
[INOCULATED COYOTES .PREAD DISEASE

Mad coyotes have forced attention
from the United States government.
the Governors OF four States. dIst!n-
euiShcd scientists and hundreds o,
citizens, cowboys and sheep herders on
Inc deserts and in the valleys Of Ne
vada, Northern California. Eastern
oregon and Eastern Washington.
And one man-whom II was claimed
inoculated Il captive coyote for the pur-
pose or discriminating the spccieS-is
said to be responsible for the reign OF
fear. the harvest OF death and the pos
sible property loss OF millions.
The number OF these raving animals
lurking in the shadows is purely n
matter OF coniccture--some say hum
dreds-othcrs contend there are thou
sands In the infected territory.
Edward r. Sans expert for the
United States Biological Survey. pro-
nounccs the disease rabies. The lay
men continue to call it ,hydrophobia.
From Southern Nevada along the
east slope OF the Sierra Nevada Noun
tains TO the Canadian line the scourge
has spread-and is spreading Hun
dreds--perhaps thousands-of children
attending the rural schools in the in
fectcd areas are warned OF the possible
danger 10 human life. and, In many in
stances, are armed for defense Losses
Of cattle and sheep on the desert and
OF thousands OF dollars.
Governor Johnson, OF California;
Governor Boyle, OF Nevada; Governor
Widdccombe. OF Oregon. and the local
officials of the various counties affect
ed have all taken some precautionary
action. The Pastcur treatment for
rabies has been Given-or Is being
givcn--to more than fifty people in
the universities of California. Oregon
and Notwithstanding TO reliable re-
ports
Warming by Health officer.
DR.. Henry Bersstcin, City Health
officer OF Reno. New, has issued n
warning to the Nevada metropolis:
'Hydrophobia may lay dormant in
the systems of animals he says. for
some time before the physical condi-
ton which we all recognize asserts it
self. Thus a dog that has been bitten
by an infected animal some time be-
fore might appear to be cross and
surly, with none of the common symp-
toms which recognizc: such as
frothing at the mouth. swapping and
commissions. Thus II can be readily
seen that very material damage can
be done before we are aware.
ALREADY we have sixteen persons
bitten in Nevada. six of whom are re-
ceivinS treatment at the university.
The disease is gradually coming this
way. and urge you to prepare to meet
the emergency.
1T is true that three months have
elapsed since the animal infection was
discovered in Winncmucca. In that
period of time 1t has reached Love
lock ca distance Of about fifty milcs),
and there is no telling when n rabd
dog or coyote may bite some of the
local dogs and thereby start deadly
scourEe here. For be it known that
when once the disease reaches tho
stage where the usual symptoms as
sert themselves in human beings there
is no power on earth that can save the
lives OF the victims.
InOculntcd Coyotes.
THE method Of treatment is to taio
the patient, Immediately after being
bitten. and give the serum. which
countcracts the hydr0phobia before the
latter gets start. AS IL is, there arc
numerous of the patients that take
the Pastcur treatment who die"
According to current reports one man
IS responsible for this tragic condi-
ton. This man, as the story goes,
was formerly n practicinS physician
with technical ideas Of chemistry and
surgery. He was engaged In the sheep
business In Il small way in Eastern
Oregon. Little was known of him. and
now II lis reported that he has dis
reared probably as result of
morse
Having suffered losses in his nock
MS II result OF tho dcprcdations Of
coyotes. no determined to eliminate tho
entire species. On some vague pre-
text no procured tho virus to inocu-
late q caDt!yo coyote with rabies and