498 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doe. 



dog was quarantined for ninety days; December 15 he was 

 still healthy, and was released from quarantine. November 

 5 a dog owned in West Dennis was killed by his owner 

 on suspicion of having rabies, and the head sent to Dr. 

 Frothingham. The results of the tests are so far negative. 



This makes a total of 18 cases of supposed rabies during 

 the year: 4 were proved not to have been rabid, by inoc- 

 ulating rabbits or guinea pigs ; 6 proved to have rabies, as 

 the result of the laboratory tests ; 8 probably had rabies ; 

 and 5 of the 8 certainly were rabid. In addition, 15 dogs 

 and 1 cat were quarantined for ninety days, as a safeguard 

 to prevent any further spread of the disease. 



The Board wishes to reiterate what it has said in the past ; 

 that is, every case of rabies or suspected rabies should be 

 reported by the police and others to the Cattle Commission, 

 or the local inspector of animals. The inspectors of animals 

 ought at once to report every case which comes to their 

 notice to the commission, and send the head of the suspected 

 dog at once to Dr. Langdon Frothingham, at the Harvard 

 Medical school. If the weather is hot, the head should be 

 sent packed in ice. If the dog in question has bitten anyone 

 it is especially important to send the head in to use for inoc- 

 ulating small animals. If the tests are made at once, it can 

 be decided whether the person bitten ought to undergo the 

 protective inoculation. If the rabbits or guinea pigs develop 

 rabies, the proof that the dog has rabies is certain, and any 

 person bitten should commence the treatment at once. If the 

 experimental animals remain health}' , the person bitten can 

 feel sure that there is no danger of developing rabies. The 

 experimental animals develop rabies soon enough, if the test 

 is made at once, to give the person time to commence the 

 treatment after hearing' the result of the test, without 

 having anything to fear from delay. It is said that rabies 

 does not develop in rare instances for months after the bite 

 is inflicted, but usually the symptoms appear in three or 

 four weeks ; therefore, while the Board does not feel that 

 there is absolutely no danger from a bitten dog after ninety 

 days, at the same time, ninety days' quarantine is all dog 

 owners will stand, and there is comparatively little danger 

 after that time. 



