Facts and Observations. 
Royal Patronage. —Her Majesty has accepted the office 
of patroness of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to 
Animals in Turin, which, under the patronage of the Duke 
of Aosta, is already exercising a very salutary influence in 
Italy. 
Hydrophobia. —The report of the Home for Lost and 
Starving Dogs states that, though 300,000 dogs had passed 
through the institution since its foundation, only one case of 
rabies had been discovered; and though bites were of daily 
occurrence, not one of the officers had been attacked. 
Hydrophobia in Preston. —Another of the children who 
were bitten by a rabid dog at Preston a few weeks ago has died 
of hydrophobia. There is, according to the mayor, a reign of 
terror in the town, notwithstanding that an order has been 
issued by his worship that till November next all dogs shall 
be kept under control.— Globe. 
Poisoning of Animals by Strychnine. —Dog poisoning 
by strychnine is reported to be carried on in Kircudbright- 
shire to a serious extent, and that several farmers have thereby 
lost many valuable collies. The local papers speak strongly 
and rightly so against this iniquitous practice, which it would 
seem is adopted for the preservation of game. 
Uncleansed Cattle Pens. Conviction. —The Lon¬ 
don Chatham and Dover Railway Company was on May 
22nd fined at the Chatham Police-court for wilfully infringing 
the provisions of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act, by 
not cleansing the cattle pens at Chatham Station. The 
Treasury prosecuted. The stipendiary magistrates inflicted 
a penalty of £10, and £2 2s. costs.— Globe. 
Hippophagy in Vienna. —We learn from the Globe that a 
considerable falling off in the consumption of horse flesh has 
taken place in Vienna, which by some writers is attributed to 
a growing distaste for this food on the part of the poorer 
classes, and by others to the great depression which has 
existed in trade, whereby artisans and others were deprived 
even of the means of procuring horse flesh, at the rate of 10 
kreutzers per pound. The number of horses slaughtered in 
Vienna for food was, in 1877, 4056, and in 1878, 3770. 
The Horse Disease of South Africa. —The special 
Correspondent of the Daily News reports that the horse 
disease, the curse of South Africa, has appeared among the 
cavalry. Great precautions have been taken to prevent the 
animals from eating wet grass. 
