532 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



whether the trouble was rabies or not. If the dog dies 

 of himself, the head should be at once removed and immedi- 

 ately sent to the laboratory, if it is necessary to make a 

 diagnosis. Owing to the expense of making the test, it is 

 not generally advisable to undertake it unless the supposed 

 rabid animal has bitten other dogs or persons. 



If persons have been bitten, it is very important to estab- 

 lish a correct diagnosis, in order to decide whether it is best 

 for those injured to undergo the protective treatment or not. 

 As a rule, a rabbit inoculated will develop rabies in a suffi- 

 ciently short space of time to give the person ample oppor- 

 tunity to go to the Pasteur Institute ; while, if the result is 

 negative with the rabbit, the person bitten may rest assured 

 that he was not injured by a rabid animal, and is, therefore, 

 in no danger of contracting rabies. When a dog's head 

 arrives at the laboratory with the brain torn by bullets, or 

 after decomposition has set in, it delays the result in making 

 a diagnosis, or even prevents it being made altogether, 

 hence the importance of its being fresh and intact. 



The appended table gives the cases reported to the Board 

 of Cattle Commissioners during the past year, showing the 

 month, town, species of animal and damage done, as far as 

 known. It is hoped that the efforts of the Board for the 

 suppression of this dangerous scourge will meet with such 

 success that in time it may again disappear ; but to do this 

 the hearty co-operation of local boards of health and police 

 authorities in all cities and towns is necessary. 



