ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 435 
To the Editor of the Times. 
Sir, —Yesterday I saw two cases of hydrophobia, a disease 
which is perhaps the most painful to witness of all which 
afflict humanity. . They occurred in children, who with 
three other persons had been bitten, along with dogs and 
other animals, by the same rabid dog about a month ago. 
One of these children I have just heard is dead. The mental 
condition of the three persons as yet unaffected may be left 
to the imagination. 
Formerly the great majority of even old practitioners had 
never seen a single case of hydrophobia; but the disease has 
increased very much of late years, and especially in this part 
of the country, although I am not able to furnish accurate 
statistics on the subject. I myself have now seen five 
cases, and my experience of yesterday must be almost 
unparalleled. 
I venture to invoke the powerful assistance of the Times 
in a crusade against rabies in dogs; and in order to make 
this letter as brief as possible I refer to an able article, by 
Sir Thomas Watson, in the Nineteenth Century for Decem¬ 
ber, 1877. He recommends, along with other eminent men, 
that with the aid of legislation there should be enforced a 
rigid quarantine of all dogs for several months, by which 
this disease, the only known source of hydrophobia, could 
be effectually stamped out. 
Preston, May 14th. Yours, &c., M.R.C.P. 
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF ENGLAND. 
Monthly Council, Wednesday, May 7th, 1879. Present, H.R.EL 
the Prince of Wales, K.G., President, in the chair. 
Veterinary Report. 
Colonel Kingscole, C.B., M.P., Chairman, reported the receipt of reports 
from the Royal Veterinary College on investigations made, and the 
Committee recommended that the members be applied to for the 
expenses incurred. The Committee having received and considered two 
applications from members of the Society asking for remission of fees for 
veterinary inspection, were of opinion that the funds of the Society 
should not be called upon to defray the same. 
Colonel Kingscole supplemented this report by stating that at the annual 
dinner of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons on Monday last, 
great satisfaction was expressed by the head of that College, as well as by 
heads of the Royal Veterinary College and the Edinburgh Veterinary 
College, that the Royal Agricultural Society had resolved to offer prizes 
to encourage students in the study of cattle pathology. A great wish 
was expressed by Principal Williams, of the Edinburgh College, that the 
