Evening star., 1945-02-16
Maryland Counties
Seek D. {. Action 10
Halt Rabies Outbreak

Prompt action by District officials
to curb rabies is necessary to pre-
vent recurrence of the disease in
outlying areas this spring, Mary
land health authorities declared to-
day.
A comprehensive program to vac
cinate all dogs, coupled with strict
and efficient dog control, was con-
ceded generally to be the best
means of preventing a fresh out
break.
DR.. A. L. Brueckner, acting dir0-
tor of the Maryland Livestock SAM
tary Service, said control measures,
including vaccination and quaran-
tines last summer in Montgomery
and Prince Georges counties, were
effective in checking a rabies cpl
demic. He added, however, that If
the disease continues to mount in
the District the job will have to be
done over again in the nearby areas
Study Rutland PROPOSAL.
/ Meanwhile, the corporation coun-
sells Office has under study a recon-
mendation by DR.. George C. Rub.
land, District health of1icer, calling
for compulsory vaccination OF dogs
as prerequisite for obtaining an
nual license tags, and for an rn-
specified increase in the redemption
fee for stray dogs impounded. An
order Of the Commissioners for pin
ming UP dogs running at large has
been in effect since last year
Pointing to experiences in the
two outlying Maryland counties
last summer when more than 29,o00
dogs were given rabies immuniza-
tion shots, health officials there
were doubtful if a law requiring
dogs to be vaccinated before license
is granted would be effective in
curbing rabies.
1t was explained that in, both
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties the cost of the immunizing
shots was paid jointly by the State
and the locality, with the result
that many unlicensed dogs were
brought to immunizing clinics.
Fearful Of d. C. Plan.
Under the proposed District plan,
it is believed a great many dog own
ers simply would refuse to purchase
license rather than pay the extra
cost of the vaccination. 'e
While medical authorities disagree
on the effectiveness of the vaccine,
DR.. Brueckner said more than salts
factory results were achieved in
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties by combination of vac
cinations and quarantine.
From 1881 to 1912 Maryland was
virtually free of rabies, DR.. Brueck-
ner said During four years OF this
period no cases were reported, while
in other years the number varied
from one to eight cases.
Reappeared in 1S43.
Early in 1888, he continued, the
disease appeared in Montgomery and
Prince Georges Counties, with 50
cases reported in Montgomery and
so cases in Prince Georges by the
end Of the year.
Before the vaccination program
was started in the two counties the
following summer, DR.. Brueckner
said, 68 cases of rabies had been re-
ported in Montgomery County and
II cases in Prince Georges. During
this program, he added, approxi-
mately 1880 dogs were vaccinated
in each county and rabies virtually
vanished. There were only two
cases reported during the balance
of the year in Montgomery and only
II cases reported during the same
period in Prince Georges.
According to District Health De-
partment figures, rabies first ap-
peared here in 1912. The disease
spread rapidly, with 104 cases re-
ported the following year and 14s
cases reported in 1914.
~ Reported Here.
Up to Wednesday the Health De-
partment said, ~ rabid dogs have
been reported in the District. This
compares to one rabid animal re-
ported this year in Montgomery
County and three in Prince Georges
County.
Results Of rabies control meas
ures last year In the two Maryland
counties" DR.. Brueckner said, sindi-
cate that programs based on quar-
antine may logically be supple
mented with vaccination and that
vaccination without quarantine re-
strictions should not be depended
on for effective control"
Two Days Of War Debate
LONDON, Feb. is tR.-Arrange-
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