I was surprised to find a suspected rabies story when researching Blantyre in the 1890s.
Reported in the Hamilton Advertiser and in context of the end of January 1893, it said; “On Monday by order of the authorities, Mr W. Anderson, V.S., Glasgow, and Mr J. B. Hamilton, V.S., Hamilton, conducted a post-mortem examination of two dogs supposed to have been suffering from rabies at mansion-houses in the neighbourhood of Blantyre.“
“One of them had been destroyed, and the other died, showing all the symptoms of the ailment. As the result of the post-mortem, the “vets.” are satisfied that neither dog had been affected with rabies, death having resulted from a severe cold and inflammation of the throat.”
Clearly nobody was taking any chances in those households, regardless if these animals were family pets or working dogs.
