Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-05-09
Hydropitobia.


makes It's approach more gradually. 1t lasts long
er, and ii is more intense while il endures. The
dog that is going mad feels unwell for along time
prior to the full development of the disease. fle
is very i'll, but he does mol know what ails him.
He feels dissatisfied with everything; vexed
without cause and, greatly against his better
nature, very snappish. Feeling thus, he longs to
avoid all annoyance by being alone. This makes
HIM seem strange to those who are most accus-
toned to him. The sensation induces him to
seek solitude. But there is another reason which
decides his choice of resting place. The light
ntllcts upon him intense agony. The sun Is TO
him an instrument OF torture, which he therefore
studies TO avoid-f0r his brainsaches and feels as
it were trembling Jelly. This induces the
poor brute 10 find out the holes and corners, whore
he is least likely to be noticed, and into which the
light is unable to enter. In solitude and dark
ness he passes his days. Ifhis retreat be discov-
cred. and the masters voice bid him to come
forth, the alfectionate creatures countenance
brghtens, his tail beats the ground and he leaves
his hiding place, anxious 10 obey the loved au-
thorlty but before he has gone half the distance,
a kind Of sensation comes over him which produ
ces an instantaneous change in his whole appear
ance. He seems to say 10 himself: ''Why can
not you let me alone? Goaway! Do 90 away!
You trouble--pan me-" And thereupon he sud
denly turns tail and darts back into his dark cor
ner. II let alone there he will remain; perhaps
frohing little at the mouth, and drinking great
deal OF water, but not issuing from his hiding
place to seek after food. His appetiieS are alier-
ed hair, straw, dirt, filth, excrement. rags. tin
shavings, stones, the most nosome and unnatural
substances, are then the delicacies for which the
poor dog, changed by disease, longs and swallows,
in hope TO ease a burning stomach. lie Is most
anxious for liquids. He is now altogether changed
Still he does not desire to bite mankind he raih-
er endeavors to avoid society he takes long Jour
neys of thirty or forty miles in extent and length
ened by all kinds Of accidents, to vent his restless
desire for motion.
When on these journeys he does not walk
This would be too formal and measured pace
for an animal whose whole frame qulvcrs with
excitement. He does not run. That would be
too great an eXertion for an animal whose body is
the abode of deadly sickness. He proceeds In
a souching manner, in a kiR of trot-a move
ment neither run nor walk-and his aspect Is de-
jected. His eyes do not glare and slale, but they
are dull and relracted. His appearance is very
characteristic, and, il once seen, can never after
wards be mistaken. In this state he will travel
the most dusty roads, his tongue hanging dry
from his open mouth, from which. however, there
drops no foam. His course is not straight How
could it be-since il is doubtful whether at this
period he sees at all? His desire is to journey
unnoticed II no one notice him, he gladly pass
es by them. He is very i'll; he cannot stay TO
bite. If. nevertheless, anything oppose his pro-
gress, as if by impulse, snap-as man in SIM
liar state might strike-and tell the person ito
get out of the way" He may take his road "a
cross field in which there a aeck of sheep.
Could these creatures only make room for hun,
and stand motiuness, the dog would pass on and
leave them behind uninjured. But they begin to
run. and at the sound the dog pricks up his ears.
His entire aspect changes Rage takes posses
sion of him. What made thai noise : He pur-
sues it with all The energy of madness. He flies
al one, then at another He does not mange, nUr
is his bite simply considered, terrible He can
not pause to tear the creature he has caught. He
snaps and then ruShes onward, ill, fairly eX-
hausted and unable longer to follow, he sinks
down and the sheep pass forward, to be no more
molested He may have bitten twenty or thirty
in his mad onslaught; and would have worried
more, had his strength lasled-tOr the tjTCre OF
madness then had possession OF him. lie may be
slain while on these eXcurs0ns bat II he escapes,
he returns home and seeks the darkness and quiet
of his former abode. His thirst increases, but
with il comes the swelling of the throat. lie
will plunge his head into water, so ravenous is
his desire but not drop of the liquid can he
swallow, though It's surface is covered with bub
bles in consequence Of the effort he makes TO gulp
the smallest quantity. The throat is enlarged TO
that extent which will permit nothing to pass
He is the victim of the most horrible inflammation
of the stomach, and the most intense inflammation
of the bowels. His state Of suffering is most pit
table, He has lost all self.reance even feeling
is gone. He flies at and pulls to pieces anything
that is within his reach. One animal in this can
diton being confined near fire, flew al the burn
inc mass. pulled out the live Goals, and in his fu
ry scrunched them He elnils the most hideous
cries The mise he makes is incessant and pecu
liar. 1t begins as bark, which sound, being too
torinrng 10 be continued, is quickly changed to a
howl, which is suddenly cut short in The middle !;
and 50 the poor wretch at last falls. fairly worn
out by terrible disease,-.uayhe,c's Dogs.