Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-06-29
HydroPhObia-Sisns and Remedies.

HydroPhobia-Sisns and Remedies.
medical correspondent Of the Newark Ad-
vertiser says:
L. There are many cases Of hydrophobia
where the characteristic phenomenon of dread
OF swallowing water or other liquids is present
This Is caused by the spasmodic affection of the
muscles OF the chest and throat which is pro-
voked by the attempt to swallow. The patient,
conscious that the attempt to swallow will bring
on a spasmOdic attack has a dread of water
hence the popular opinion is exaggerated, and
the name itself a misnOmer the disease not
consisting in hydrophobia, but the hydropho
pia being merely symptom. A man with in
famed sore eyes shuts them from the light; he
has ph0fOph06tG, Just aS a man affected with
spasms of the chest and throat has hydropho-
bia, because he is instinctively and from expe-
rience conscious that his spaslns will be in
creased by attempts to swallow. HydrOphobia
IL not a disease, but q symptom.
IL. The general experience Of the profession
has settled the fact pretty well that rabid ami
mails may communicate by bite a specific
poison, which, though contrOllable to a certain
extent like all other pOisOns yet is sui pelyeyjs
The poison of dead bodies, bloody murrain, if
introduced into the blood, causes one disease .
the introduction Of that of rabid dogs another.
HydrophObia, hen once established, is IA fatal
as any other disease. But many persons bitten
do not take the disease. either from want of
predlspOsitiOn or from the non-introduction of
the poison into the wound.
III. The effect Of cOpious draughts of liauor
in the bite Of rattlesnakes though many cases
have been authentically recorded, is somewhat
prOblematical. The poison Of rattlesnakes,
however. is entirely different from that of
mad dogs in its effects; hence, even the weak
foundation Of analogy for such treatment is un-
tenable. Furthermore, the poison of rattle
snakes manifests itself very soon after the in
jury while thst of ''Ta6iss capiRd" lies dor
mant often for months, and it would be injudi
ciOuS to keep man on theoretical drunk ~
for that length of time. What to do with the
wound locally'every hand of surgery fully
explains.
~ The belief IN "mad stones is the ,u7I-
sd of all superstitions. A common sponge win
absorb ten times as much of the poison az the
most porous stone on the globe.
V. The statistics Of hydrophobia may show
that there are no more cases Of il than from
lOckJaw IN consequence of nails run in the foot
Yet 1t is the duty Of sanitary police to prevent
dogs from biting people, especially during q
season when experience has shown that dogs
are suffering from n communicable disease 1t
Is man own fault if he walks bs refoOted and
runs nail in his heel-it is not often his fault
when he is bitten by dog, mad or not.
vi. Statistics show that the great majority
Of cases Of canine madness are communicat
by "bites'-hence the boys worrying and pur-
suing dogs for the purpose of impounding or
killing them (if they are not muzzled) are an :
gagged in q prasewOrthy sanitary service. and
should be literally rewarded.
To these answers | add the following:
VII. Beware of mad dogs
VIII. When you are bitten run for the
nearest doctor. ***