Several of the inhabitants of Walworth waited on the sitting magistrate, at Union-hall, for the purpose of applying for his aid and assistance in preventing their families from being attacked with that dreadful of all maladies, the hydrophobia. They stated that, on Monday evening, about six o'clock, a large dog, of the Newfoundland species, belonging to a cow-keeper at Walworth, being chained up in consequence of having shown strong symptoms of madness the day before, by biting all the dogs he came near in the neighbourhood, broke loose from his fastening, and in his escape bit a child. In consequence of the number of dogs that were bitten by the rabid animal in Walworth, they (the applicants) were terrified to allow any of their families into the street; and unless some method were adopted for the purpose of destroying the dogs that were already bitten, the most serious and alarming consequences were to be apprehended.
The Magistrate told them that the best advice he could possibly give them would be to shoot all those dogs that appeared in the neighbourhood and that manifested the slightest appearance of having the hydrophobia.
The applicants withdrew, thanking the Magistrate for his suggestions, and no doubt slaughter will ensue among the canine species found at large in that neighbourhood.