M6 BOARD OF AGRICULTUKE. [Pub. Doc. 



Rabies. 



Rabies at present seems to be of very infrequent occur- 

 rence in Massachusetts ; although it prevailed extensively 

 in some localities a few years ago, it now seems to be prac- 

 tically eradicated. Since the case mentioned in the report 

 of January, 1903, in a dog at Pittsfield, only a few cases of 

 rabies or suspected rabies have been reported. 



Three dogs with symptoms of rabies have been reported 

 as having been killed, but, as rabbits were not inoculated 

 from these animals, the diagnosis was not proved. Two 

 other dogs showed suspicious symptoms, one in (.^ambridge 

 in May, the other in Stoughton in September; but rabbits 

 inoculated with material from the base of the brain from 

 each have remained healthy, showing that the canines were 

 not victims of hydrophobia. 



There were two positive cases which are interesting, as 

 the animals probably were infected outside of Massachusetts, 

 and developed the disease after arrival in this State. 



One of these was a green horse, bought at a sales stable 

 in Boston a day or two after coming off the cars, and taken 

 to Westborough May 20. Dr. W. M. Balmer of West- 

 borough reported that the horse appeared to be feverish and 

 ailing June 18, with a temperature of 104° F., and acted as 

 though he had influenza. The following day, June 19, Dr. 

 Balmer again saw his patient about 5 o'clock in the after- 

 noon, and the only apparent improvement was a drop of 

 two degrees in temperature. The animal still refused to 

 eat, and objected strongly to the administration of medicine. 

 Saturday forenoon, June 20, the horse was led out on the 

 halter, when he ate quite a little grass, drank some water 

 and was returned to his stall. Up to this time he showed 

 no signs of viciousness. An hour later he would allow no 

 one to approach his stall, and excitement seemed to increase 

 his viciousness, he mvino: vent to it bv kickinjr the sides of 

 his stall. 



About 7 o'clock in the evening Dr. Balmer was summoned 

 in a hurry. He found the horse tearing at his breast, which 

 he had laid open with his teeth, throwing himself down and 



