232 
FOREST AND STREAM 
[March 19, 1898. 
he Rennet 
Hydrophobia. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I take Mr. J. J. Meyrick (Ande yours March 12, page 
213) to be a professional, and therefore do not venture 
to dissent from his expressions on hydrophobia; but 
there is one point on which I am about certain that he 
-is mistaken. He quotes Gen. Dodge as authority' for tlie 
statement that bites of skunl<s cause rabies in the Ar- 
kansas Valley, but not to the north or south of that 
locality! 
Now I have never seen Gen. Dodge's work in which 
this statement was made, but I did investigate the sta- 
tistics of "skunk rabies" very thorotighly some 5rears 
since, and must strain my modesty enough to think that 
the published results of my investigation very seriously 
damaged that myth that the bite of a skunk always pro- 
duces rabies. 
The truth as to that yarn seems to be that the investi- 
gations and reports of Dr. John H. Janewa}^, a .surgeon 
in the United States Army, have been most wonderfully 
twisted and misunderstood, and on what it is supposed 
Dr. Janeway has stated as his observation this myth has 
been founded. Now the real truth is that in — or about^ — 
1871 Dr. Janeway, who was stationed at Fort Hays, Kan., 
reported on prevalence of rabies caused b_y skunk bites, 
and so far from supporting the idea that skunks could 
convey the disease by their bite, irrespective of their 
being rabid themselves, he distinctly combats this delu- 
sion. He cites cases of hydro'phobia in man resulting 
from bites of skunks, dogs, wolves, and even hogs! 
He admits that the bites of rabid skunks produce more 
cases of hydrophobia than bites of other animals, but 
verj'' satisfactorily accounts for this by the skunk being- 
nocturnal, and thus bites sleepers in exposed poi'tions 
of their bodies, while the wolves and dogs sometimes 
bite through the clothing, and thus the virus was not in- 
troduced into their systems. In fact, he cites one instance 
of one man, bitten in the hand, dying of hydrophobia, 
and another bitten on the leg escaping, the same rabid 
animal (wolf, I think) inflicting both bites,_ one directly 
after the othei". Dr. Janeway makes it quite clear that 
the outbreak of rabies he reported on was epidemical, 
as no cases were known previous to a certain year; and 
in a private letter to me he says that very few cases ap- 
peared in the year following that on which he reported, 
and none the year after that; and that skunks were 
very rare in that district for some 3'ears after; he also 
says that the disease first appeared in the northern tier 
of Texas coimties, and thence spread to the Fort Hays 
Reservation. That skunks may contract rabies, and that 
while rabid their bites can communicate the disease, 
seems quite comprehensible, but that the bites of non- 
rabid skunks can convey the disease is beyond swallow- 
ing by any old coon or fox hunter like myself, who has 
known dogs skunk-bitten by the dozens, and never saw 
a case of rabies. 
I feel sure that this skunk-rabies delusion has arisen 
from total misconception of Dr. Janeway's reports, as 
every person supporting the idea refers to Dr. Janeway 
as the authority for it, and great is Dr. Janeway's dis- 
gust at being so erroneously quoted. The vitality and 
persistence of this skunk-rabies humbug is most exas- 
perating. A year or two since, our daily papers all over 
the country had accounts of a man in St. Augustine, 
Fla., becoming rabid from the bite of a skunk, running 
amuck all over the country, biting people, and the Sheriff 
sending out a posse to shoot the rabid man on sight. 
Names of all parties were given, and I wrote Sheriff 
Perry, and he replied that the party named as the rabid 
runner amuck was alive and well; that he saw him al- 
most every day; and that he (the Sheriff) had never sent 
out a posse to shoot anybody, sane or rabid! 
As to that matter of saliva conveying rabies, may I 
suggest to Mr. Meyrick that perhaps rabies is not the 
disease conveyed? I take it that it cannot be doubted 
that saliva may convey blood poisoning, as Major Blair 
D. Taylor, Surgeon, U. S. A., long stationed in north- 
ern Texas, in his kind reply to my inquiry if he had 
ever known of a case of skunk rabies, in addition to his 
Statement that he had never seen or known of a case, 
added that the present Surgeon-General, U. S. A., had 
demonstrated by experiment that saliva — even that of 
mankind^ — could, and did, convey blood poisoning. In 
'my investigations of reported cases of skimk rabies I 
came across such instances as a man skunk-bitten show- 
ing symptoms of rabies, but recovering after copious 
blood-letting! And another man who went into a slow 
decline dying eight months after the bite! Major Taylor 
says that blood poisoning would account for such cases, 
but as the layman understands rabies, neither of these 
was a case of that disease. 
Presuming that Mr. Meyrick would be interested in 
reading just exactly what Dr. Janeway did report on 
skunk rabies, I would say that I sent a copy of the 
Medical Record, of New York, containing said report, 
to my friend Dr. J. Sidney Turner, 81 Anerley road, 
London, S. E., and I have no doubt that Dr. Turner 
. preserved the paper and will be glad to show it to Mr. 
Meyrick. 
I should have said above, that in addition to the 
statements of many medical men in the supposed "skunk 
rabies" district who had never seen nor heard of such a 
case, the late Prof. E. D. Cope wrotjg me that he was 
located a few hundred miles west of Fort Hays during 
the jfears in which Dr. Janeway made his observations, 
and that he had never heard of any rabies, skunk or any 
other kind, while there. You, Mr. Editor, know the 
value of Prof. Cope's testimony on any such matter. 
Yours truly, W. Wade. 
Oakmont, Pa , March 10. 
A Good Retfkvef* 
The Edinburgh Scotsman relates that a gentleman 
who was recently out shooting at Long Milford in Suf- 
folk tells how he was standing under a fence when he 
saw a partridge flying straight to the fence, and he was 
about to fire, when it dropped into the ditch opposite 
wkere he was standing. 
He immediately sent his retriever after it, and having 
got about looyds. down the ditch the dog returned with 
some feathers in his mouth. He sent the dog into the 
ditch again, telling him to fetch it, and to his surprise 
the dog returned bringing by the spout an old tea ket- 
tle minus the handle, and with the French partridge in- 
side, its head just peeping out. 
No doubt the bird ran into the tea kettle for safety, 
and the dog tried his utmost to get it out tlie first time, 
but owing to the small apertrtre was unable to get his 
nose in; on being sent back a second time he thought 
it best to bring the lot rather than disappoint his mas- 
ter. This was witnessed by several gentlemen of the 
party, and the bird had not been shot or wounded in any 
way. 
American Spaniel Clttb. 
The annual meeting of the American Spaniel Cluh was 
held on Feb. 22, in Madison Sciuare Garden, New 
\''ork. Present, Messrs. H. K. Bloodgood, S. J. Brad- 
bury, George Douglas, R. P. Keasbey, F. W. Kitchell, 
Andrew Laidlaw, H. R. Mullens, E. M. Oldham, W. T. 
Payne, George R. Preston, Jr., Jesse Riggs, Mrs. F. 
Smyth, Marcel A. Viti, D. E. Waters, James Watson, 
A. C. Wilmerding. 
Certain changes and amendments to the constitution 
and by-laws were made, and the following executive 
committee elected: R. P. Keasbey, S. J. Bradbury, Mar- 
cel A. Viti, H. K. Bloodgood, George Greer, W. T. 
Payne and A. C. Wilmerding. 
At a meeting of the executive committee it was de- 
cided to open the following sweepstakes, to be judged 
at the Westminster Kennel Club's Show of 1899: 
Clumber Spaniel , Sweepstakes, for clumber spaniels 
whelped since July i, 1897, and never shown prior to 
Jan. I, 1899; Irish Water Spaniel Sweepstakes, for Irish 
water spaniels whelped since July i, 1897, and never 
shown prior to Jan. i, 1899; Field Spaniel Sweepstakes, 
for field spaniels whelped since July i, 1897, and never 
shown prior to Jan. i, 1899; Cocker Spaniel Sweep- 
stakes No. I, for solid color cocker spaniels whelped 
since Tuly i, 1897, and never shown prior to Jan. i, 1899; 
Cocker Spaniel' Sweepstakes No. 2, for parti-color cocker 
spaniels whelped since July i, 1897, and never shown 
prior to Jan. i, 1899. Conditions of entry: Nominations 
^ made on or before July i, 1898. to be accompanied by 
$1 entry fee; nominations not made by July i, but 
made on or before Sept. i, to be accompanied by $2 
entrv fee; nominations not made by Sept. i, but made 
on or before Nov. i, to be accompanied by $3 entry fee; 
no nominations will be received after Nov. i, 1898. 
A final fee of -$3 is to be paid upon all entries on or 
before Jan. i, 1899. Any nominations on which the 
final fee is not paid by Jan. i, 1899, will be forfeited to 
the stake. 
An amount equal to at least 50 per cent, of the entry 
fees in each stake will be added thereto. All stakes are 
to be awarded as follows: First prize 40, second 30, 
third 20, fourth 10 per cent, of the stake. 
If less than four dogs are shown in any stake, the 
whole amount of the stake is to be paid to such entries 
in the above ratio. 
It was also decided to open the following produce 
stakes: Futurity Stakes, for spaniels over 281bs.; Fu- 
turity Stakes, for cocker spaniels. Conditions of entry 
in Futurity Stakes: All bitches whose produce is de- 
sired entered in this stake must be nominated before 
being due to whelp. Payment to be as follows: Imme- 
diately after whelping a payment of 25 cents to be made 
upon each puppy in the litter. At the age of three months 
an additional payment of 25 cents to be made upon each 
puppy desired to be retained in stakes. A final fee of $3 
is to be made on all entries on or before Jan. i, 1899. 
Any nomination upon which the final fee is not paid by 
Jan. I, 1899, will be forfeited to the stake. 
All stakes to be awarded as follows: 
First prize 40, second 30, third 20, fourth ro per cent, 
of stake. If less than four dogs are shown in any stake, 
the whole amount of the -stake is to be paid to such en- 
tries in the above ratio. A club tankard to be given to 
the winner of each futurity stake. 
Three challenge prizes were presented to the club: 
Mepal Challenge Trophy, for best cocker spaniel, pre- 
sented by H. K. Bloodgood, Esq.; Saybrook Cocker 
Trophy, for best cocker any solid color other than 
black, presented by R. P. Keasbey, Esq.; the Breeders' 
Trophy, for best field spaniel bred by exhibitor, pre- 
sented by Marcel A. Viti, Esq. Conditions governing 
llominatji3iis can be obtained of the secretary. 
National Produce Stake* 
New York, March 7. — Through a clerical error in 
the minutes, of the meeting of the club recently formed 
to run the National Produce Stake, the title of the or- 
ganization was given as National Field Trial Club. I 
will say that this title was talked over, but finally re- 
jected, owing to its conflict with a former club of that 
name, now defunct. The name of the organization is 
National Produce Stake Association. 
CnAs. H. Phelps, Jr., Sec'y-Treas. 
POINTS AND FLUSHES. 
In our advertising columns will be found an oflfer of 
$25 reward, by Mr. James Mortimer, for the return of 
the black cocker spaniel bitch Simcoe Rose, which was 
either missent or taken from the late show of the West- 
minster Kennel Club, 
The premium list of the first annual dog show of the 
Western Pennsylvania Kennel Club, to be held in Oil 
City Hall, Pittsburg, Pa., April 6 to 9, is now ready 
for distribution, and can be obtained of Mr. F. S. Sted- 
man, Lewis building, Pittsburg. 
The annual meeting of the Yacht Racing Associa- 
tion of Long Island Sound will be held on Monday, 
March 21, at 8 P. M., at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, New 
York. More or less business of importance to the As- 
sociation as a body and also to the clubs individually 
must come before the meeting;- and it is most desirable 
that there shall be a full attendance of delegates. Each 
club owes it to itself that it is fully represented, both to 
protect its interests and to demonstrate that it appre- 
ciates its position as a member of the Association; and 
it also has other duties to the Association in carrying 
out the general business to the best interests of all. It 
rests with the executive of each club to make certain 
that all of the club delegates or their proper proxies 
will be present at the meeting and prepared to take part 
in the general discussion of amendments, etc. 
The Boston Globe quotes at length from the letters of 
Messrs. Froude and Watson in Mr. Jarvis' report, and 
comments on them as follows :_ 
With sUch testimony against two ideas which are pet 
American ones just at present — no tax on sail area and 
no restrictions on centerboards, the latter being a ne- 
cessity here— the adoption of the complicated British 
Y. R. A. rule is not likely. The Y. R. A. of M. is likely 
to give the most satisfactory rule for boats under 30ft. 
waterline, proAaded it keeps up its present progressive 
policy, and the experience of next season should help 
wonderfully toward that end. 
It is a matter of course in this country at least, what- 
ever the popular will may be in England, that no dis- 
crimination shall be made between the keel and center- 
board types in the rule of measurement, but that both 
shall be placed as nearly as possible on an equality. This 
may not be an easy matter in practice, whatever formula 
be adopted, but it would be no more difficult in con- 
nection with the Y. R. A. rule than with many other 
proposed rules in which an effort is made to secure a 
fuller body. 
We are not j^et aware that the idea of untaxed sail is 
by any means so generally favored as the Globe indi- 
cates; in fact, it is Boston rather than America. As 
far as Mr. Froude's opinion is concerned, it relates 
solely to a rule in which several hull dimensions are 
included as factors; this, with a crew limit, of itself 
putting an indirect but most effective tax on sail. We 
have no idea that Mr. Froude would advocate a rule 
in which l.w.l. length was the sole factor. 
The point of the Boston position, first and last, lies 
in the final sentence above quoted from the Globe. Bos- 
ton is concerned simply and solely with racing yachts of 
30ft. l.w.l. and under, and is satisfied with a rule which 
produces such boats. It has no interest in larger yachts, 
and they are -never considered in the discussion of the 
measurement question. 
_ Up to the past season local conditions and various ac- 
cidental causes have operated to preserve a fairly good 
type of boat about Boston, in spite of some extreme 
racing machines of excessive sail area; and though we 
have no doubt that the development of the next two 
years under the l.w.l. rule will show very different re- 
sults, we are willing for the sake of argument to accept 
the Globe's statement that the rule is satisfactory for 
(racing) yachts under 30ft. l.w.l. This, however, has 
very little bearing on the question now prominently be- 
fore. American yachtsmen, of a new measurement rule 
that will give a fair fighting chance, if not positive pref- 
erence, to yachts of moderate draft and sail area, and 
of such fullness of body as will give accommodation 
in proportion to size. The one rule that will probably 
come further than any other from this end in producing 
yachts of excessive beam and draft, enormous sail plans, 
and. most limited accommodation, is that of l.w.l. length 
alone. 
Gilberts Bar Y. C. 
Waveland, Pla., March 9.— The Gilberts Bar Y C. held their 
usual monthly meeting and regatta Saturday, March 5. There 
was a stiff breeze from the northeast. In the first class there 
were three entries; in the second class only one. Times of 
racers as follows : 
First Class. 
Actual. Corrected. 
Albatross 0 40 59 0 40 59 
Britannia 0 40 30 0 39 14 
Penguin 0 43 17 0 42 26 
Winner, Britannia. 
.Second Class. 
Swallow 0 41 35 
Commodore, H. E. Sewall, Sewall's Point, Pla.; Secretary, Paul 
M. Aston, Waveland, Fla. 
Sound Y. R. A. 
A MEETI^fG of the executive committee of the Sound Y. R. A., 
preliminary to the annual meeting of the Association on March 
21, was held on March 7, at the Seawanhaka C. Y. C. house. 
The question of the immediate abolition of time allowance, re- 
ferred to the committee at the fall meeting, was carefully dis- 
cussed, the decision being that such action was not desirable 
at the present time, as there are strong hopes of the adoption of 
a new rule by next year, _ in which event some re-classification 
will be necessary. The subject of dates for 1898 was discussed and 
some few changes suggested, the main schedule being the same, 
as most of the clubs retain the same dates from year to year. The 
committee also discussed the subject of starting signals, referred 
to it at the fall meeting, several more signals being necessitated 
by the separate starts for the special classes. The Sachem's 
Head Y. C. applied for membership and was admitted. 
North American Y. R. U. 
The newly formed Inland Lake Y. R. A. has applied for mem- 
bership in the North . America Y. R. U., also the Royal St. 
Lawrence Y. C, the "Rhode Island Y. C, and the Newport Y. 
R. A. The Larchmont Y. C. at its recent annual meeting re- 
solved to join the Union. 
Kennel Notes. 
BRED. 
T. E. Roberts' Lady Snapshot, pointer, by Axtel King Don- 
Bessie Girl, March 5, to Duke B, 
Y* R. A, of Massachtisetts. 
Sec'y Bliss has sent out a long list of proposed amendments to 
the by-laws and racing rules of the Y. R. A. of Massachusetts, 
which will be acted on at the meeting on Thursday, March 17, 
at 7:30 P. M., at Young's Hotel, Boston. 
