No. 4.] CATTLE COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. 461 



on Sunday morning he escaped from the house, so I at once notified 

 the police, and they, with several citizens of Revere, were on the 

 watch for him all day Sunday, but without success. Shall be greatly 

 obliged if you will attach enclosed tag to his collar, and forward by 

 express. Yours respectfully, 



(Signed) T. B. Middlebrooke. 



It is well known that generally newspaper reports of 

 mad dog cases are entirely without foundation in fact ; that 

 dogs generally killed in the streets are very much more likely 

 to have been suffering from some form of disease other than 

 rabies, or else are the victims of some great mental disturb- 

 ance. "When, however, an actual case of rabies has been 

 discovered, as in the present instance of the Newton dog, all 

 such reports, however vague, coming from even the remote 

 neighborhood of the outbreak, should at once be made the 

 subject of careful inquiry ; and, if deemed necessary for the 

 protection of the public health, prompt and decided action 

 on the part of all those whose duty charges them in this direc- 

 tion. This Board is willing to act in this or in any other 

 matter, properly coming to it, with decision and firmness ; but 

 it is not ready to undertake measures for the suppression of 

 rabies until it has assured itself, by a knowledge of more 

 than one undeniable case, that that dread disease has really 

 appeared in an epizootic form. 



The action of this commission in this direction could be 

 very much more prompt, and so more valuable, if those per- 

 sons having a knowledge or suspicion of the appearance of 

 this disease would communicate them at once to this Board, 

 and not make it necessary for it to obtain its information as 

 may happen, and at a late day. It does not seem to be at all 

 well understood that rabies was made a contagious disease 

 under chapter 491 of the Acts of 1894, and that under section 

 29 of that law it is incumbent upon " every person" who has 

 a knowledge or suspicion of the existence of this disease to 

 "immediately give written notice thereof to the board of 

 health of the city or town where such animal or animals are 

 kept," 



Dogs that are supposed to be rabid should, if possible, be 

 safely shut up until the fact can be fully ascertained. The 



