MINUTES OF EVIDENCE ON CANINE MADNESS. 645 
think, but I will not speak positively upon that point, six cases 
of hydrophobia since I have been surgeon to Guy’s hospital; 
and I think, when I say I have excised wounds inflicted by dogs 
upon the human subject in forty cases, I speak within compass. 
What proportion of the dogs do you suppose to have been 
mad ?—I suppose that all were mad who communicated the 
disease to others; that a dog not rabid is incapable of commu¬ 
nicating hydrophobia to the human subject. 
Do you believe, that of twenty patients brought to the hos¬ 
pital under the idea of the dog being mad, the greater propor¬ 
tion had been bitten by dogs which were not mad?—I have no 
doubt that two-thirds were bitten by dogs which were not mad. 
Then the number of persons whose wounds have been excised 
would not give a correct idea of the number of persons who 
have been bitten by mad dogs?—Certainly not. 
Can you suggest to the Committee any measure of police as 
a prevention of the extension of the disease ?—I have reason to 
believe, though I am not perfectly certain, that the disease is 
communicated only by inoculation ; I should think that, if that 
were proved to be the case, it would not be very difficult to put 
a stop to the disease, or at least to prevent its frequency. I 
should say, that, if all dogs found at large without collars were 
ordered to be destroyed indiscriminately; that if there was a fine 
imposed on the owner of every dog found astray; if all such 
stray dogs w ith collars were taken to some depot in the parish 
as soon as they were secured; I think that such precautions 
would prevent any rabid dog which might be ranging about the 
streets from communicating the disease to others of its species 
w ithout the knowledge of their ow ners. 
You conceive that would lessen the disease very materially ? 
—Yes, if it could be proved that it owes its origin entirely to 
inoculation. 
That is the almost unanimous opinion of the faculty of the 
present day, is it not ?—I should think so, and particularly of a 
gentleman who has had more opportunity of determining that 
point than myself or any other person living; I mean Mr. Youatt. 
ON THE ROT IN SHEEP. 
By Mr. Dickins, Kimbolton . 
To the Editors of “ The Veterinarian .” 
Gentlemen, 
Soon will the readers of your valuable journal have to con¬ 
gratulate you on the close of another year, and 1 am sure there 
is not one among them but must agree with myself, when 1 state 
