Description:
Offered here is a unique piece of early 20th-century New England history. This lot includes an original 1914 dog license from the Town of Sudbury, Massachusetts, and a fascinating, grimly detailed document from the State Board of Health titled "The Symptoms of Hydrophobia" (dated January 1910).
1914 Dog License: Issued July 24, 1914, to "Mr. Geo. J. Raymond." Features the name of the dog ("Sunny Jim"), a 9-year-old male St. Bernard. Signed by Town Clerk Frank F. Gerry.
Medical Document: An original Massachusetts State Board of Health informational circular intended for dog owners. It provides archaic, stark, and sometimes brutal guidance on identifying and handling rabid dogs ("if a dog has the symptoms detailed... he should be killed at once").
A fantastic ephemera set for collectors of historical documents, medical history, or Massachusetts local history.
Transcription
Document 1: Dog License
(Top center): Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(Center): TOWN OF SUDBURY
(Dated): Town Clerk’s Office, July 24, 1914.
(Body): In accordance with the provisions of the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, license is hereby issued to Mr. Geo. J. Raymond, to keep the DOG described in the margin until the first day of April, 1915. Said dog is numbered and registered as required by said law, for which ____ dollars have been paid.
(Signature): Frank F. Gerry, Town Clerk.
(Margin Details):
No. 88
Name: Sunny Jim
Age: 9 yrs
Sex: male
Breed: St. Bernard
Color: Brown & White
(Footer): N. B.—The owner or keeper of every dog so licensed shall cause it to wear around its neck a collar distinctly marked with its owner’s name and its registered number. Dogs three months old or over must be licensed.
Document 2: Hydrophobia Circular
(Header): THE SYMPTOMS OF HYDROPHOBIA
(Description required by Sect. 132, Chap. 102 of the Revised Laws)
And other Information to Dog Owners.
(Content Highlights):
Treatment of Dogs: Warns against feeding dogs "salt things, sweet things, ham bones and chicken bones," noting these cause "indigestion and fits."
Diseases of Dogs: Advises that mange should be treated by an expert or the dog "humanely killed."
Hydrophobia: Offers a detailed (though medically outdated) description of rabies symptoms, including the "dumb form" and "violent form." It explicitly corrects the common belief that rabid dogs fear water, noting the "fear" is actually a painful inability to swallow due to throat paralysis.
Instructions: Directs owners to have suspected rabid dogs killed, heads packed in ice, and sent to the "Cattle Bureau" for inoculation testing.
(Footer): OFFICE OF THE STATE BOARD OF HEALTH, STATE HOUSE, BOSTON. JANUARY, 1910. MARK W. RICHARDSON, M.D., Secretary of the State Board of Health.
Notable Content & Historical Interest
Frank F. Gerry: The signer of the license, Frank F. Gerry, was a long-serving and notable Town Clerk of Sudbury, Massachusetts. Historical records confirm his role in preserving town documents during major events, such as the effort to protect public records during municipal building changes in the early 20th century.
"Sunny Jim": The dog, a 9-year-old St. Bernard named "Sunny Jim," is a charming historical detail. The name "Sunny Jim" was actually a very popular cultural reference at the time, originating from the "Force" cereal advertising campaign that began in 1902.
The "Hydrophobia" Document: This is a striking example of public health communication from 1910. Its tone is remarkably blunt by modern standards, particularly in its instructions for "humanely killing" sick animals and its description of rabies symptoms. It serves as a reminder of how lethal and feared rabies was before the widespread availability of modern post-exposure prophylaxis.
George J. Raymond: While there were several prominent figures named George J. Raymond in Massachusetts (including the founder of the famous Boston department store "Raymond's"), this document illustrates the standard administrative requirements for pet ownership in a small Massachusetts town during the pre-World War I era.