The New Hampshire Gazette

Of disordered and Dangerous Dogs

MR. RUSSELL,

THINK it is about two months since I first heard of dogs, supposed to be going mad in this town and its vicinity. From that time to the moment of this communication, I have been attentive to observation and unremitted enquiry. Hoping there were others from whose more able hands and heads, communications would have been made, I have withheld my feeble aid--no one coming forth, and as I fear extreme hazard increasing, I cannot without injuring my mind, longer withhold what I have been made acquainted with--

In several near towns, before any symptoms of disease appeared in this. several dogs were disordered, they did much mischief, and those who knew it armed themselves accordingly Such of those dogs as were discovered in town, as far as has come to my knowledge, have been killed and buried--excepting those that run away (contrary to the wish of their owners) it is feared they have done much injury, by biting other dogs, hogs, &c.

The writer of this, having ascertained the foregoing facts, wishing public safety, obtained the following extract from Dr. Motherby's Medical Dictionary, published in London, 1795, viz.

According to Boerhaave, the signs of madness in a dog are as follows: He becomes dull, solitary, and endeavors to hide himself; he seldom barks, but makes a kind of murmuring noise, at the same time he represses all kinds of meat and drink; he is enraged at and flies upon strangers, but in this stage he remembers and respects his master; his ears and head hanging down, he walks nodding, as if overpowered with sleep: This is the first stage, and a bite now, though dangerous, is not so bad as afterwards. After these symptoms, the dog begins to pant, he breathes quick and heavy, hangs out his tongue to emit a great deal of froth from his mouth, which he keeps perpetually open; sometimes he walks slowly and as if half asleep, and then suddenly runs, but not always directly forward as is pretended; at length he forgets his master, his eyes look dispirited, dull, full of tears, and red; his tongue is of a dead color, he is suddenly emaciated, grows faint and weak, often falls down, then rises up, and attempts to fly at every thing, and now grows mad and furious:

This second stage continues thirty hours, death putting by that time an end to the disease, and a bite received now is incurable.

"To these symptoms the following may be added, which are considered as certain signs of a dog being mad; viz. All other dogs, upon smelling the dog that is going mad, will avoid him and run away with horror. 2d. The tone of the dog's voice, when he barks, seems hollow and hoarse. In the dumb madness if the dog is confined, he barks incessantly for a day or two.

Upon reading the above extract to several whose dogs had been infected, they generally said the symptoms were justly described, as far as the sickness had progressed--that there is reason to fear continuance of this fatal disease, unless an immediate remedy is adopted, cannot be doubted.

To induce to instant attention, this is added (if report be true) more than one Person has been bitten by the dogs, and one by a hog, that had been bitten by a dog (this last is a proved fact) and it is feared one man now suffers in consequence of having been bitten--and that others may be expected soon to suffer from the same cause is but rational to expect.

As the foregoing is known to be true, by many in town and country, is not the safety of the People worthy instantaneous notice? what are dogs, compared with human specie? nothing--of what use are they to the public? very little if any. Query--is it not therefore better all should be destroyed, than the life of one individual be hazarded? If the foregoing should be thought worthy attention of which I think there cannot be a doubt, from its general importance to the public at large, and the philanthropy of the General Court, might it not be well, at the same time to consider the expediency of passing an Act for the security of towns from inland sickness; such an one was passed in Oct. 1793, when sickness prevailed southward. (I think that did not extend beyond Boston, and suggest whether it might not have been as well to have been more enlarged, the lives of all ought equally, to be attended to) it expired with the occasion, since which, it was hoped such a law would be renewed. but it was not.

The foregoing suggestions have arisen from observation, and are handed to the public, with hopes to serve the community at large,

By a wellwisher to Mankind.