The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-31
Claims It Would
 Prove Barrier To
 Spread Of Rabies
Plan Would Also Reduce Annual State Appropriation of Sl55,OOO Necessary for Pasteur Treatments of Victims Infected By Bites of Dogs

will be presented in the next ses- sion of the general assembly.
 More than one. thousand per- sons in this state applied for Pasteur treatment during the past year, according 10 a statement made by Dr Theodore F. Foster of West Hartford, who is sponsoring the movement for the in1muniza- against rabies. Dr Foster has queried health officials throughout the state and finds an unanimous opinion supporting his contentious.
 pr Edward J. Godfrey. local health officer, favors such a plan. He considers 1t very effective de- fensive, the injection of vaccine in- to dogs. rather than In human be- ings. Vaccine for animals is con- siderably cheaper.
 Tn published statement which Is receiving widespread considera- ton. pr Foster remarks:
 Last year in Connecticut alone about 1000 persons took the Pas teur treatment, because of the danger of rabies to which they were exposed. This treatment con- sists of daily injections of anti rabic vaccine for fourteen days. This vaccine for human beings. is very expensive, quite bother to take, and many people become i'll over the worry.
 "on the other hand, dog. vaccine could be bought cheaply, in large quantities by the state. Only one injection of the dog vaccine Is re- quired, and dogs do not worry yaccinate Yearly
 pr Posters plan would require dog owners to have their pets vaccinated once a year in order to obtain license. The vaccine could be fur. ished by the state to veter- inarians just as doctors and health officers are provided with serum for the immunization of children and adults for other diseases. As the immunization of dogs would reduce, and possibly completely wipe out, the need of the Pasteur treatment which costs the state an- nuaiIy about $155,000, raised through license fees, the registra- tion fee could be cut to a minimum. | In this way, Dr Foster believes, the dog owner will not be burdened with too great expense in obtain ing license and paying for the vaccination.
 An average of ninety persons die of rabies each year in the United states. About 25,O00 persons take Pasteur treatments annually in the F ton, and approximately 27.000 dogs die or are killed due to this malady. "One injection of vaccine annually for each dog would pre- vent these tragedies" he stated.
 And, even Connecticut raising $155,O00 year for control had one human rabies death in 1880 and one in 1892. I am trying to show that the measures now enl- ployed, consisting of killing stray dogs, and immunizing human con- tacts of rabid dogs by the Pasteur treatment, are not sufficient to handle the problem.
 Urges Prevention
 Rabies Is a dog disease primar- fly and the way to solve the prob- fem is to prevent rabies in dogs. State legislation is almost necessary because dogs do not respect town boundaries, particularly rabid dogs which often run many miles, bit- !.lg as they go.
 Rabies is an all-year-round disease, not just . summer disease es is commonly believed, he stated. A rood example of winter epi- demic occurred in Vermont five years ago and was the stimulus that resulted in state legislation. Between 1915 and 1880. 563 dog heads were found positive for rabies in the state laboratory here, indicating no seasonal distribution.
 Officials Favor
 "The strange fact" Dr Foster continued, Ifs that almost all health officials in Connecticut are in agreement that compulsory vac- clnation of dogs is desirable"
 Unanimous agreement of the UT. gent need of such law was ex- pressed at recent meeting of the Hartford county health officers association. Superintendent Foster then wrote to the health officers of the large cities in the state. all of whom replied in favor of such legislation. Dr Stanley H. Osborn. state health commissioner. also ex- pressed himself in favor of. and willing to work for such a law, according to Dr Foster.
 Calling attention to the last re- port of the commissioners of do-, nestle animals, Superintendent Foster quoted the following:
 "The most effective means to eradicate rabies is by the anti rabies vaccination method consist ing of one hypodermic injection. This treatment serves to protect the dog against infection. and if put into general practice will even- tually eradicate the disease.
 '.The importance of anti-rabies vaccination as a means of eradi- eating rabies cannot be overesti- mated. The fact that single atment will immunize and pro-
 t an unexposed animal for at least twelve months should appeal to dog owners and public health officials. It is apparent from past experiences and the nature of the cisease, that we can never hope to eradicate 1t until vaccination be- .E..-.