458 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



[Copy.] 



Newton, Mass , Dec. 12, 1895. 



Dr. Charles P. Lyman, Boston, Mass, 



Dear Sir: — The Board of Aldermen of Newton, at special ses- 

 sion, ordered all dogs in Wards 1 and 7, east of Laundry Brook, 

 muzzled for four months. Enclosed letter from city clerk explains 

 itself, and why I address you. It is probable that you have seen 

 something of the case in the daily papers, e. g., the "Herald" of 

 Tuesday. Until the 22d ult. the dog, which was but thirteen months 

 old, was just an awkward, good-natured puppy. On the 22d he was 

 very much excited and I'estless, and showed disposition to snap, and 

 on the 23d bit the seven persons alluded to, including boy on whose 

 bed he had slept each night, and servant girl who fed and petted 

 him. He also fought with every dog he could find, without regard 

 to size. He was taken to the dog and cat" home at Brighton, but 

 man in charge gruffly refused to admit him, although the children 

 told him something was wrong with the dog. 



He fought with many dogs going to and from that place, wound- 

 ing some severely. He disappeared at 5 p.m., and was killed at 5 

 a.m. next morning, at West Roxbury, nine miles distant. What 

 course did he pursue in reaching that place, and how many dogs did 

 he bite? He savagely attacked and bit the man who killed him. 

 Identification was positive a week later, and the autopsy at Boston 

 Veterinary College showed stomach full of stones, sticks, straw, hair 

 and manure. His teeth were all broken. Dr. Ernst has inoculated 

 rabbit, and also one has been inoculated at Pasteur Institute, New 

 York,' where children, two of them being my own, are under anti- 

 rabic treatment. 



Since local ordinance was passed, it occurred to me that territory 

 covered is not sufficient, as he visited home of John Campbell on 

 Chapel Street, this city, on the 2 2d, which is quite a little west of 

 Laundry Brook, but was not admitted, as he was then all dirty and 

 bleeding. Please act promptly and vigorously, as Thursday will be 

 twenty days since the 22d. On October 18 a small black dog, who 

 acted strangely and had run away from home, ran up the street 

 adjoining the home of the dog above mentioned, and ran across a 

 wide lawn and attacked a child. He was beaten off by a coachman, 

 who was bitten. He snapped at several persons, and was killed by 

 the police. Did he bite this dog, and where else did he go, or what 

 other dogs did he bite? 



Newton is greatly excited, and will welcome vigorous and far- 

 reaching measures. Dr. Ernst says, even if rabbit does not develop 

 rabies, it will not disprove that dog having rabies, as the dog had 



