Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1915-09-18
Hydrophobia
Is a Menace
VOLUME LVII
By w. B. Mack of the University OF


of infected animals. Dogs, coyotes and
animals which naturally bite as d
means of offense or defense are re-
sponsible for nearly ali cases Any
injected animal might transmit the
disease, but among domesticated ami
mails, those most likely to transmit it
are the carnivora. Injected horses or
mules might readily do So There is
Likelihood of cattle and sheep trans
mitting it, and | know of no cases on
record where rabid men have done SO.
1t is the practice, however, in cases
of rabies in man to guard etfectually
against transmission, as there is no
reason why rabid man may not trans
init the disease as well as infected ami
mails. That probably accounts largely
for the reason that there are few or no
such instances on record.
The disease may also be transmit
ted by the abrasion of the skin by the
claws of infected animals contaminat-
ed by their saliva. In fact any method
by which infection naturally may gain
access to the tissues of an indiidual
may be sufficient for the transmission
of the disease.
About twenty per cent of human
beings who are bitten by rabid ami
mails develop the disease. This per-
centage is much lower than i'll am
mails. Doubtless the clothing OF man
protects him many times. The dis
ease is always fatal once it develops
In community in which rabies ex-
lists, all dogs should be placed under
efficient restraint. This restraint
should be such that it is impossible
for them to bite human beings or
other animals, or in turn be bitten by
infected animals in towns or cities.
The dog is the principle, i'll fact prac
tically the only medium by which rab
les are transmitted. Restraint OF dogs
should consist OF confinement in build
ings sufficient to keep other dogs
from attacking those confined, or II
dogs are allowed to run at large, they
should be well muzzled or led upon
leash The County Commissioners
should order such confinement or
muzzling and insist upon rigid en-
forcement of such ordinances. If
dogs are found running at large with
out a muzzle they should be shot or
captured and confined. In the case
of farmers, sheep -herders. etc, visiting
town accompanied by dogs, the same
regulations should apply. If these re
qurements are complied with, the dan
gerger from the spread of rabies i'll
towns will be practically eliminated.
As an example of the efficiency OF
muzzlng or keeping dogs on leash iii
well settled communities, the expert
ence of Great Britain is of interest.
| submit the following statistics from
that country.
1887, 2I7 cases of rabies; 1889, 100
cases of rabies; 1880, 3l2 cases OF
rabies.
Muzzling enforced--lS00. l2o cases
of rabies; 1891, 79 cases OF rabies;
1892. 80 cases of rabies.
Opposition to muzzling with relax
tion-lSo3, 90 cases of rabies; 1894,
248 cases OF rabies; 1895, 672 cases of
rabies.
Muzzling again enforced-lS9o, 43S
cases of rabies; 1897, Isl cases OF
rabies: 1898, II cases of rabies; 1900,
9 cases of rabies; 1900, 6 cases of rab-
les; 1901, case of rabies; 1902, Is
cases of rabies; 1908, no case OF rabies.
Australia is said never to have had
case of rabies. That country has Wig
orously enforced quarantine against
the Importation of dogs. Every dog
arriving in that country is held in
quarantine for a considerable period.
In this way Australia has been kept
free from the disease.
Rabies could be effectually eradi-
Gated from well settled communities
if public sentiment would favor effect
ual control of dogs. The fact that
rabies, when once thoroughly estab-
lished in such communities persists,
Is due to opposition on the part OF dog
owners and dog lovers to muzzling
Contrary to the opinion held by
many, a well fitting muzzle gives a
dog no more Inconvenience than a
halter or bride gives a horse. Muz-
zled dogs are more peaceable and
much less apt to engage in fights than
unmuzzled ones. In community
where rabies is prevalent the real dog
lovers should seek to protect their
dogs against infection, and it seems
to me that a muzzling ordinance gen
orally enforced should meet with the
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