7oo 
THE IMPROPRIETY OF MUZZLING DOGS. 
To the Editor of the Shrewsbury Chronicle. 
Sir, — ALTHOUGH the subject which forms the heading of this 
letter is one that, to the distant reader, will seem of but little 
importance, it is, nevertheless, one which at the present moment 
excites much public interest in Shrewsbury; and moreover it 
is, in reality, as I think I shall be able to prove, one of great 
general importance. I trust, therefore, that you will spare me 
a corner in the forthcoming number of your paper for the few 
remarks which 1 have to make on the subject. 
It is now several weeks since the inhabitants of this town, or 
at least that portion of them who keep dogs, were not a little 
excited and astonished by an order from the mayor, that no dogs 
should be allowed to go in the streets unmuzzled; and this ex- 
citement has been kept up by the occasional infliction of fines 
on some few who neglected to attend to the order, and was, on 
Friday last, brought to a climax, when a distinguished medical 
gentleman, and late a prominent member of the Town Council, 
boldly and firmly denounced the spirit, and publicly questioned 
the legality, of such proceedings. With these things I have 
nothing to do; but, as a member of the veterinary profession, 
and therefore one whose studies and experiences and avocations 
have given him peculiar advantages for judging of such matters, 
I trust I shall be excused if I venture to inquire how far such 
an order as the one in question is calculated to effect the grand 
object for which it is generally resorted to, namely, the preven- 
tion of that mysterious malady, canine madness. 
There is no disease amongst those to which the lower 
animals are liable about which so many fallacies prevail as 
that which veterinary pathologists have denominated rabies; 
for I need scarcely remark that the term “ hydrophobia,” which 
signifies a dread of water, is altogether inapplicable to the dog, 
since when affected with this malady he will drink with avidity. 
It is not necessary that I should enter into any description of the 
disease further than to state that it is, fortunately, exceedingly 
rare, much more rare than is even generally supposed, and that 
it is essentially a disease of the nervous system. The dog, in a 
state of perfect health, is by nature of a temperament highly 
nervous, easily excitable, and impatient of constraint; and air 
and exercise are absolutely necessary to the preservation of his 
health and utility. Under the slightest exertion his breathing 
becomes exceedingly rapid, his tongue is protruded, and his 
mouth hangs open that the passage of the air to his lungs may 
