The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-12-15
From tie Albany Caitirator
HYDROPHOBIA.


OF all the diseases to which the animal cre.-
ton is liable there is none, perhaps, so horrible
in Its manifestations as that called rabies-coia.
monty known as hydrophobia. The latter term.
however, seems to be in some degree inappropri-
ate, inasmuch as dread OF water is by no means
a universal accompaniment of the disease.
Youatt, in his treatise on '1he Dog" has Civ
en- the pathology of rabies in a more detailed
form than any other author and as the disease
is one OF which there is always more or less dan
ger, both to our domestic animals and to the hu
man race, it may serve good purpose to present
a hriet synopsis of his observations.
In answer 10 the question, what is the cause OF
rabies: Mr. Y. says-''It is the saliva OF rab-
i'd animal received intoa wound or on an abrad-
ed surface OF the nature OF the virus he thinks
We know but little. cit has not, - he says, 'been
Analysed aud it would be difficult to analyze ito
1t Can only be propagated by inocuauon-it must
be brought in actual contact with the nervous
fibre. HI is OF opinion that it never arises spcn.
taneousy, aud ne thinks if quarantine of eight
months could be established, and every dog con-
fined separately Tor that length Of time, the dis
ease would be completely annihiated.
Alter the poison oil a rabid animal has been
communicated to another, it lies dormant for a
while-The length OF time varying with differ.
ent animals. In the human subject the disease
usually mantests itself in from three weeks to
SIX or seven months in the dog not less than
fourteen days: and generally from five to six
weeks-in three months from the time of being
bitten, the dog would be considered safe. In
man it usually runs its course in twenty-four
hours--rarely exceeding seventy-two hours in
the horse 1t runs three or four days. in the dog
four TO SIX.
The disease has been communicated either nv
the bite OF rabd animal, or by incubation with
the virus, to almost all kinds OF animals: and in
all it was accompanied by the same or similar
characteristics. The strange and uncomfortable
disposition to bite is generally manifested, even
in rabbits, sheep, and in the human race. Bv
way OF experiment, two physicians noculated
! fowls with the loan taken from the mouth Of =
! rabid COW and after about ten weeks, the birds
died with evident symptoms OF rabies.
MEANS OF FREYEN rIoN. Excision of the
! bitten or exposed part has been frequently re-
sorted to, and with various SUGGESTIVE operation
! is thought to demand great skill owing TO the
difficulty Of taking out the affected part without
! bringing the virus in contact with the tresb-cut
tissue. Canterizatien (burnng the bitten part
with hot iron) has been practiced with little
! advantage. The application OF caustic-E,nor
eostic-has on the whole proved best at is,
| says Mr.. Iouatt, ''pertectly manageable, bande-
ing sharpeDed to point may be applied with
certainty to every recess and sinuosity Of the
| wound. Ii the whole OF the wound has been ev
posed to its action, an insoluble compound of AMI
NAL fibre and the metallic salt is produced IN
which the virus is wrapped up, and from wbich
! II cannot be separated. In short time the dead
mater sioughs away, ami the virus is thrown off
| with Il" He recommends APPLYING the ca,,s,il
second time, but more slightly after the escbar
has sloughed off, in order TO DESTROY aDv mart rho,
may not have been properly acted on by the frs,
! operation.
Mr. foua,t states that he was several fines
Oitten oY raold dogs; but that by timely appJi.
cation oil the lunar caustic he escaped "and vet
Often" says he, "when have been oyer.taTg-
ueo, or httle out OF temper, some of the ola
sores nave ltched and throbbed, and actually be-
come red and swollen" He was once bitten n
very dangerous manner by a rabid cat Tbis
animal Is generally very ierocous when laborin,
under rabies, though fortunately ii Is bnt seIdo,
| that 1t IS thus affected. During lis narovvs,Ds
It's rage knows no bounds. In the Ease alluded
TO- the cat had been the playmate of the cb,ldren
oil the family, but had, all at once. become s,,ller
ana iii-tempered 1t got into an upner room
"here II was allowed to remain, and MIR. Youatt
was sent Tor, He gives the following THRILLING
account OF the scene which ensued.
at was nearly dark when went Isau ,bo
horrible glare OF her eyes, but could not 500 81
much OF her as wished and said wouId caiI
again 10 me morning. found the patient ON the
lono"ihs Jay, precisely in the same situation and
me same attitude, crouched up in corner and
[eauy 10 spring was very much interested in
the case; and as | wanted to study the count
nance OF this demon, Tor she looked lka ona
was ioolshly, inexcussbly imprudept ,vn,.,
On my hands and knees, and brought NV tace
nearly on level with hers, and gazed on..bose
giaTlng eyes and that horrible coontenance vn
I'll seemed to feel the deahly influence =,
spel stealing over me. | was not afraid b,, -,
cry mental and bodily power seemed in man.
her suspended. My countenance, perhans aIar,n.
co her, Tor she sprang on me, fastened harsoIr -,
my lace, and bit through both my Inns she tho'
uarted down stairs, and believe was nevor 49,
again. always have nitrate of silver IN 49,,
pocket; even now | am never wilbont I,
washed myself, and applied the cau,tc win
some severity to the wound and nv medic,i sd'
wiser and valued friend furnished sui rnora atta.
got home. My object was attained. aIthomoh
at mewhst too much cost, for the expression or
that brute's countenance will never be forgot
ten." s0''
Mr.. Youatt very severely censures the prac.
uce INDUCED IN by many persons, Of allowing
dogs to lick their hands aud face. He saws the
habit IS very dangerous one, and relates a case
OF lady having lost her lie by suffering her dog
10 lick pimple on her chin. Horses have also
taken the disease iron dogs licking their nuzzles
which were scratched or chafed.
ITO be Continued
FOUND. Miss Marietta Smith. the avoung
and beautiful school teacher" about whose sud.
den and unaccountable disannearanco Froo, Now