Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-02
HYDROPHORIA

ne IoHowihg sensible suggestions Tor the
prevention Of this frighiful land so far as we
can Judge by experience, incurable) maady,
being from man Of known experience IN
the diseases of animals, will be of use to our
readers, in case Of any occurance of the fear
ful accident, the effects OF which they are in
tended to prevent. The communication is
from MIR Ainslie, the veterinary surgeon
"Nassau street, Middlesex Hospital.
"Sr,-A late case hydrophobia, report
ed in the papers, induces me, with your per-
mission, to offer for the good of the public
the following observations on the disease,
and the only means we are acquainted with
TO prevent il. In the human being it is cal
led hydrophobia, in the dog and other ami
mails, rabies. We are unacquainted with
the nature of the poison, but it differs from
all other poisons by remaining apparently in
adormant state for weeks, or even for months
and is not absorbed into the system for some
time after the bite. No remedy is known
for the disease when once it is developed.
None of the nostrums which are said to be
cures can be relied upon. The cause of the
disease is equally unknown. Some have at
tributcd it TO the heat of the weather-the
''dog-days," others 10 want of water, or i'll
usage, but we have no proof of it. The
present su miner is the hottest we have known
for many years, and l have not known of
any case in the metropolis until the one al
luded to. In many hot climates the disease
is unknown, and il has ragged among us in the
coolest weather. In 1888, had no less
than 4S cases under treatment, this year
have not had one. My predecessors, Messrs
Blaine and Youatt, as well as myself have
been bitten by rabid dogs, and we are still
alive, and we have operated on some hun
dreds of human beings who have been Bit
ten by rabid animals, and in no case has
there been loss of life. The prevention is
as follows. The person bitten should as soon
as possible thoroughly wash and cleanse the
bitten part, not suck the poison from the
wound, as Is too commonly done, for inoc.
ulation may take place by an abrasion on the
lip. IL the wound be superficial and ragged,
let the edges be removed with pair of els
sors, and then apply freely to every part the
nitrate of silver, commonly called lunar
caustic, and which may be had in any drug
gsst's shop. If the wound be a punctured
one, as in some cases it is from the tusk of
the animal going deep into the flesh, the stick
ofcaustic must be carefully pointed that it
may reach the bottom; if necessary, the
wound should be enlarged, care being taken
in the use Of the knife, or the poison may be
carried byi;t over the fresh surface. The
nitrate Of silver completely destroys the sur
face ofthe wound and neutralises the poison.
which comes away with the destroyed sur
face without the absorbents acting upon it,
and if freely applied 10 the part affected the
patient may feel himself perfectly safe. |
do not recommend the application of a pou-
tice after the operation, but let the wound be
exposed to the atmosphere, and should any
Inflammation ensue, it may be relieved BY
dressings of olive oil.