220 



DEPAETMENTAL REPORTS. 



from 10 to 25 per cent of all yoiinjr .stock iu the vast districts of this 

 country where blackleg prevails. 



So far as can be judged at the present time the loss after vaccina- 

 tion during the past year has been less than one-half of 1 per cent. 



An elaborate report containing the details of this work and an item- 

 ized account of the results obtained is now under preparation. 



Since the beginning of the distribution of blackleg vaccine in August, 

 1897, the total number of doses furnished to the cattle raisers of this 

 country amounts to 1,711,900, and the indications are that between 

 2,000,000 and 2,500,000 doses will be required to supply the demand 

 during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901. 



Number of doses of blackleg vaccine distributed during fiscal year ending June 30, 



1900, by States. 



Number. 



3,750 



420 



8,585 



99,340 



..... 20 



4,595 



1,535 



600 



28,495 



13,325 



Kansas 172, 535 



Arizona. 



Arkansas 



California 



Colorado 



Georgia 



Idaho 



Illinois 



Indiana 



Indian Territory 

 Iowa . . 



Kentucky. 

 Louisiana . . . 

 Michigan .__ 

 Minnesota .. 

 Mississippi . . 



Missouri 



Montana . . . . 

 Nebraska . . . 

 New Mexico. 

 New York... 



4,235 



75 



170 



13, 835 



340 



19, 420 



23, 560 



185. 580 



9,215 



465 



Nevada 



North Carolina 



North Dakota 



Ohio... 



Oklahoma 



Oregon . . . 



Pennsylvania . 



Philippine Islands.. 



South Dakota 



Tennessee . . . 



Texas _ 



Utah ... 



Vermont 



Virginia 



West Indies.. 



Washington . . . 



West Virginia . 



Wisconsin 



Wyoming 



Total 1,076,150 



RABIES IN THE DISTRICT OP COLUMBIA. 



There has been a marked increase in the number of rabid dogs dis- 

 covered in the District of Columbia during the past year. In pre\^ous 

 j^ears the number brought to the attention of this Bureau was as fol- 

 lows: In 1893, 11; 1895, 2; 1896, 5; 1897, 3; 1898, 7; 1899, January 1 

 to June 30, 4. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1900, the number 

 of cases was: August, 1; October, 2; November, 5; December, 7; 

 Januaiy, 5; February, G; March, 4; April, 6; May, 6; June, 3 — total, 

 45. In addition, 4 cows, 1 cat, and 1 horse were tested and found to 

 have died of rabies. Four men and 10 children were bitten. 



The continued prevalence of this terrible and fatal disease at the 

 seat of the Federal Government is a serious condition and one which 

 demands earnest consideration. Rabies is a disease which only origi- 

 nates from contagion ; in the vast majority of cases it is caused by the 

 bite of a rabid dog. If, when an outbreak occurs, dogs are kept securelj^ 

 isolated or are properly muzzled for a sufficient time to cover the period 

 of incubation, the disease is easilj^ stamped out. It seems inexcusable, 

 therefore, to allow the contagion to be propagated indefinitely, caus- 

 ing untold suffering to the affected animals and menacing the lives of 

 persons, particularly children, who go upon the streets. 



Rabies is worthy of the attention of the federal authorities, not 

 only because it has been so frequent at the seat of Government where 



