134 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Rabies. 



The outbreak of rabies which started in the winter and 

 spring of 1905 has ahnost subsided, and it is hoped that it will 

 soon practically disappear, and become a disease of rare occur- 

 rence, until the time arrives when there is another generation 

 of particularly susceptible dogs with a surplus of dog popula- 

 tion, when the introduction of some new cases infected with a 

 strong virus will undoubtedly cause another similar outbreak, 

 under our peculiar system of dog management, and history 

 will repeat itself, — at least, there seems to be one of these 

 outbreaks of rabies every fifteen or twenty years. 



At the beginning of the year commencing Dec. 1, 1908, 

 Fitchburg was the only place in Massachusetts where an order 

 to restrain dogs was in force, and Fitchburg and Wareham 

 were the only two places where any considerable number of 

 dogs were in quarantine. There has not been a case of rabies 

 in Wareham since September, but in Fitchburg there have 

 been several cases quite recently. 



The following table shows the prevalence of rabies during 

 the year ending ^N'ov. 30, 1909 : — 



One dog released July 12 developed rabies, and was killed 

 September 28. 



One human death from rabies has occurred during the past 

 year. A boy died in Lynn, November G, who was reported to 

 have been bitten by a stray dog several months before. Dur- 

 ing the year ending November 30, 77 peoi)le in Massachusetts 

 took the Pasteur anti-rabic treatment. 



The veterinarian of the I'oston Poard of Health reports 29 

 cases of rabies in dogs in Ihat city during the year, making 



