in the Seventies and Eighties. 23 



for any unpleasant symptoms among the other hounds. All 

 went well for a fortnight; then two bitches were seized on 

 successive days with a disease in the throat, which pre- 

 vented them swallowing, and was accompanied by a loss of 

 the use of the lower jaw. These were treated by blistering 

 the throat with doses of calomel, and feeding them, as well 

 as could be accomplished, with strong broth and stimulants 

 by means of the horn. Both died. On a post mortem exami- 

 nation, all the parts appeared in a natural condition, but there 

 was a mucous covering in the throat, the general appearance 

 of the internal organs being similar to that when death is 

 caused by suffocation. A few days elapsed and other hounds 

 were seized in precisely the same manner, all dying in about 

 three or four days. As a rule, the hounds so attacked were 

 quite harmless, following the huntsman and apparently grate- 

 ful for anything done for them. The attacks continued, and 

 some few began to show signs of rabies. The general 

 features of the disease were, however, what is usually called 

 dumb-madness, which, beyond doubt, is contagious in its 

 character; and seeing that no hound once attacked ever 

 recovered, the decision come to was to put them down im- 

 mediately on the first appearance of the symptoms, in order 

 to avoid infection. Up to November 23rd, about nine couples 

 had been attacked and died, the disease still running on. 

 Of course hunting was suspended, and the Committee, feeling 

 deeply their responsibility, called a meeting of the subscribers 

 in Durham, on Monday, November 27th, to take into con- 

 sideration the proper course to be adopted under these 

 painful circumstances. The question to be decided was, 

 whether looking at the danger to life and the uncertainty as 

 to any known mode of cure, the pack should be destroyed, 

 or an attempt be made to stamp out the disease by isolating 



