Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-07-23
THE MAD DOG.

The dog is naturally the most nervous of all
the dumb tribe. His intense affection, his nat
ural jealousy, his method of attack, the blind
ness of his rage, and his insenSibility to conse.
quences all bespeak creature whose nervous
system is developed to the highest possible de-
gree. L myself once had little cur who, as
was reading, would enter the apartment, iuinp
upon my knee, uttering a low whimper all the
time, creep along my waistcoat. rub his little
body against my head and face lick the hand
lifted up to return his caresSes, and then scam
Per on, and perhaps not come near me again
the whole Of that afternoon. What was this
but an affectiOnate impulse seeking a nervous
development? The way to manage an animal
OF this description is, TO respect his evident ex-
eltability. The instant a dog appears to be get
ting excited, there should be a sign given COM
manding a stop to be put to all further proceed
ings. II the respect of the animal be habitual,
the person who mildly enfOrces it may enter q
room, where the same dog is in a rabid state
and come forth unscathed.
have hitherto been among dogs. and never.
theless, have almost escaped being bitten. The
reason is. that l understand and respect the in
nate nervousness Of the animal. When I 20
into room. II there be dog there and he crogl
speak kindly to him. and then seat myself.
and bestow on him none of my attention for
some time. My request to his master or mis-
treSs Is that he or she will not check or stop the
symptoms of his wrath, but allow him to vent
feeling OF remOrse is silent. When this takes
place, and a sufficient time has passed to con-
firm him IN the new method into which he has
recently entered, approach him with my hand
extended and open this bring near to him by
degrees, avoiding all sudden movements or any-
thing that may provoke his natural disposition
Generally he crOuches, then 1 speak to him in
tones of encouragement. If he displays his
warlike propensity, / still bring the hand nearer
and nearer to him, telling him to bite it if ho
please, if he is not ashamed to iniure that which
means To do him good.
Then, perhaps, he will make snap at nv
extended hand, which is not upon this with
drawn. or the jaws would close with nervous
violence, but allowed to remain, and the teeth
20 touch the skin without wOunding it, / allow
him TO hold the hand for any length Of time he
pleases, telling him he would lose his character
II ne were to harm 1t. That he is n courageous
dog, and means no hurt; he would be ashamed
90 bite And with this kind of speech, which
the animal may not literally understand but
the sense and purpose Of which he nevertheless
appears to understand. L seldom fail of getting
my hand safe and sound from the ecreature' Jaws.
After that may pat him for an intimacy has
begun he allows Inc 10 drag him forth take
him on my knees, and permits Inc any liberty 7
please to take. L do not attribute my escape
to any charms that possess; but account for
IT simply by knowing and respecting the natu-
raj temperament Of tho beast
This natural respect for the feelings of most
afccuOnate creature, with such power Of OBJ
servatiOn as will enable the individual to rec.
OSnlZe the presence Of lamentable sickness in
an animal that has with truth been called esthe
companion Of the house" shall at all times en-
able the uneducated in such matters to recoc-
Mise mad dog, and, unless luck be dead against
the individual, save him from being bitten.
Ii Is no pleasure TO a dog to go mad. Quite
the reverse. Dreadful as hydrOphobia NAV be
h1o- = 20 81 4
1t makes Its approach more gradually. 1t lasts
longer and Is more intense while il endures
The dog that is going mad, feels unweIl for
long time prior to the full development OF the
disease. Tie is vory i'll, bat he does not know
what ails him. He feels nasty; dissatisfied
with every thing; vexed without a reason; and
greatly against his better nature very snappish
Feeling thus, he longs to avoid all annoyance
by being alone. This makes him seem strange
10 those who are most accustomed to him.
The sensation induces him to seek solitude.
But there Is another reason which decides his
choice of resting. place. The light inficts
upon him the most intense agony. The sun is
tO him an Instrument of torture, which he
therefore studies to avoid, for his brain aches
and feels as II 1t were trembling Jelly This
Induces the poor brute to End out the holes and
corners where he IS least likely 70 be noticed
and into which the light is unable to enter. In
solitude and darkness he passes the day. If
hIs retreat is discovered and the masters voice
bids him 10 come forth, the affectionate crea-
ture : cOuntenance brightens, his tail beats the
groond, and he leaves his hiding place anxious
u obey the loved authority; but before he has
gone bali the distance kind of sensation comes
over him, which produces an instantaneous
change in his whole appearance. lie seems to
cay u himself " Why can't You let me alone
Gro away. Do 90 away. You trouble YOU
pain me- And thereon he suddenly turns
and darts back into his dark corner. If let
alone, there be will remain; perhaps frothing
little at the mouth, and drinking n great deal
Of water, but not Issuing from his hiding place
% seek after food His appetites are altered;
hair, straw, dirt, filth, excrement, rags, tin
Shavlngs, stones, the most nOisOme and unnatu-
raj substances are then the dcIicacies for which
the poor dog. changed by disease, longs for and
swallows, in hope IN ease a burning stomach
lie Is now altogether changed Still he does
not desire TO bite mankind he rather endcavors
e. avoid society; he takes long journeys Of thir-
ty or forty miles IN extent. and heightened by
all kinds of accidents to vent his restless desire
Tor motion When on these journeys he docs
not walk. This would be too formal and meas
Urei plce for an animal whose whole frame
4ulyers with excitement. He does not run
That would be tOO great exertiOn for an ami
mai whose body Is the abode of "A deadly sick
ness. lie proceeds in slOuching manner in q
kind OF trOt movement neither a run or
walk, and his aspect is detected. His eyes do
A-Ob Si'tlO duL SNdic, Dul tney are Quil and
trdcted. His appearance Is very characteristic
and II once seen can never afterwards be mis-
taken. In this state he will travel the most
dusty roads, his tongue banging dry from his
open mouth, from which, however. there drops
no foam
His course is not straight. How could it be
since IT Is doubtful whether at this period he
sees at all, His desire Is To- journey unnoticed
II no one notices him, he gladly passes by
them lie Is very i'll. He cannot stay to bite
H. heveftheiesS' anything opposes his progress
he will, by impulse, sRap-as a man in a simi
lar state might strickland tell the person To
get out Of the way. He may take his road across
field in which there is flock of sheep. Could
these creatures only make room tor him. and
stand motionless, the dog would pass on and
leave them behind uninjured. But they begin
To run, and 1T the sound the dogs pricks up
His entire aspect changes. Rage takes posses
sIOn OF him. What made that nOiSe' lie pur-
sues II with all the energy Of madness. lie flies
a then anofbor IL H., -. ,,on,.,,