132 FACT AGAINST FICTION. 



Nothing can be more nnscliievous, or, for that 

 matter, more ignorant, than chissifying what is 

 called ^^rable.s" with the fearful and always fatal 

 malady of hydrophobia, for it is impossible to 

 miderstand Avhat ^^ rabies" means, descanted on as 

 it has been of late by erring and blatant individuals. 

 ^' Rabies " is the first step to certain death, and 

 therefore every dog insane from any cause other 

 than confirmed h^^drophobia should be put to 

 death. I have just seen, September, 1872, the 

 account of ^^a mad dog at large at Grloucester," 

 who made his way from the neighbourhood of 

 Hartpuiy, and after he was supposed to have bitten 

 several dogs, luas captured alive b/j two policemen^ 

 and taken to Mr. Ploltham, a veterinary surgeon, 

 who pronounced the animal to be suffering imder 

 the most severe form of '' rabies," and the dog was 

 destroyed. 



Then, let me ask, why destroy the dog when 

 you have him in safe custody? Why not chain 

 him up where notliing could get access to him, 

 and watch the course of the disease ? If the insane 

 dog recovers, supposing Inm to have bitten any 

 human creature, the mind of tlie bitten individual 

 is relieved from the horrible apprehension of 



