RABID DISEASE FROM NEGLECT. 135 



the present, and had even a number of patients who had been bitten, one in parti- 

 cular, thirteen years since, bitten in his presence by a dog, which he was convinced 

 at the time, was really rabid; he treated the case, however, as a common wound, no 

 ill consequences ensued, and from general concurrent testimony, no such disease as 

 canine madness had existed in the Island, which yet he acknowledges might 

 possibly be imported in dogs from Europe. Here a most important consideration 

 suggests itself, and would be acted upon with the utmost punctuality, did men 

 think their dearest interest worth the trouble of a guard. Is the good fortune light 

 or trivial, to be exempted in their own persons and dearest connections, from the 

 most horrible of all human inflictions, CANINE MADNESS and hydrophobia? A 

 Country surely ought to be deemed most fortunate from such exemption, and every 

 possible care ought to be used, to prevent the intrusion of foreign dogs, more espe- 

 cially into Newfoundland, which possesses within itself, the best breed upon earth, 

 for every possible use or purpose in that country. 



The Gentleman above alluded to, attributes the disease which had the semblance 

 of real madness, to a fever induced by severe labour, with insufficient nourishment, 

 from salt and improper food, and hard comfortless lodging. Materially also, to the 

 want of a sufficiency of water, the streams being frozen, and the wretched dogs 

 being reduced to the necessity of barely moistening their mouths with snow ; and 

 even while water is plenty, their unfeeling task-masters, will not allow the animals, 

 by the exhausting labour of which they are supported, time to slake their thirst, 

 although, in that respect, they are always extremely complaisant to themselves ! 

 That which renders the neglect still more cruel and abhorrent from true feeling, is, 

 these victims of human selfishness, actually starved when their services are not 

 wanted, have no other food during their daily labour, than damaged and putrid 

 salt fish ! In the mother Country, although the animals are neglected and ill 

 treated to a degree sufficiently reprehensible, we have nothing of equal infamy, but 

 it is an opinion of long standing, that in Colonies, every branch of morality is uni- 

 versally at a low ebb. Of this, the following sentiment, in the letter from which our 

 account is derived, is a tolerably sufficient proof " It is certainly fortunate, there 

 is such a disorder, as unless there was something of the kind to carry off the dogs, 

 we should be overrun with them." As if it would not be more profitable, as well 

 as humane, to prevent, in the first instance, a surplus of these indispensable dogs ; 

 or in the second, to dispose of the surplus in a manner more consistent with justice 

 and compassion and of what far greater profit would the animals be, judiciously 

 reduced in numbers, and kept in good condition. 



In February 1815, the Grand Jurors of St. Johns, presented to the Court of 

 Session, the existing state of the Dogs in the town, supposed to be hydrophobia, as 

 dangerous to the inhabitants -, and it was, in consequence, ordered that, all dogs 

 found at large, in or about the town of Sf. John, be forthwith destroyed excepting 



