No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. ■143 



If rabies is diagnosed by this means, or if other evidence of the existence 

 of rabies is such as to furnish reasonable ground for belief that rabies has ac- 

 tually occurred, then a quarantine is established covering all dogs that have 

 been exposed to contact with the rabid dog. If the history and conditions sur- 

 rounding the case are such as to make it possible to locate all of the exposed 

 animals, these animals are then quarantined by the service of special individ- 

 ual quarantine notices upon their o« ners. If, however, the rabid dog has been 

 at large and his course cannot be actually traced, as is so often the case, then 

 a general quarantine is established affecting all dogs in the district that has 

 been travelled over by the rabid dog. Such general quarantines are established 

 by proclamation. The order of quarantine is published in two newspapers 

 printed in the county of the quarantined area, and copies of the quarantine 

 notice are posted conspicuously throughout the district involved. 



The laboratory of the State Livestock Sanitary Board is always ready to re- 

 ceive the bodies or heads of animals that have died under such circumstances 

 that, as to denote they may have been affected with rabies. In sending such 

 material to the laboratory, the head should be severed from the body as soon 

 as possible after death. It should then be wrapped in oilcloth, parchment pa- 

 per, rubber or other water proof material and should be placed in a large buck- 

 et, surrounded by cracked ice and sent at once to the laboratory of the State 

 Livestock Sanitary Board, 39th street and Woodland avenue, Philadelphia. A 

 letter addressed to the State Veterinarian should accompany the specimen or 

 should be forwarded in the same mail. This letter should give information as to 

 conditions surrounding the case. By the newer methods of examination, it is 

 possible quickly to tell, in most instances, whether the animal from which 

 the speciment was taken was affected with rabies or not. If the animal was so 

 affected, then it is possible promptly to take such precautions as may be neces- 

 sary to prevent the further spread of disease, and if it is found that the animal 

 was not affected with rabies, then a great deal of unnecessary expense and 

 anxiety are avoided. 



Respectfully submitted, 



LEONARD PEARSON, 



State Veterinarian. 



