STATE HYGIENE 



621 



The administration should place one large area under 

 schedule, and rigidly enforce the Act. 



The influence of centralized control in dealing with the 

 disease may be seen from the following table, which shows 

 the number of cases of Eabies in Great Britain for the past 

 10 years. 



The muzzling order in affected districts came into 

 operation on April 6, 1897, and the table just givent is 

 eloquent testimony as to its efficacy. 



We know for certain that for 55 years prior to 1903 

 Eabies and Hydrophobia existed in Great Britain, the 

 latter malady claiming as many as sixty victims in a year 

 (1885) ; yet six years of common-sense centralized legisla- 

 tion, with a deaf ear turned to a hysterical public, was 

 sufficient to free the country from one of the saddest and 

 most painful diseases man can contract. 



There is no reason why rabies should ever again assume 

 any proportions in Great Britain, though it is almost 

 certain the disease will be introduced from time to time, 

 until ships are forbidden to carry dogs. The public safe- 

 guard given by the Importation of Dogs Order, insures the 

 disease will not be imported from abroad by dog-owners. 

 It has been suggested that this Order is occasionally 

 evaded, but a wholesome term of imprisonment for the 

 first offender detected, without the option of a fine, would 

 suffice to prevent a repetition of this selfish behaviour. 



* Muzzling in affected districts introduced April 6. 



t Eeport of the Chief Veterinary Offleer, Board of Agriculture, 1903. 



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