Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1860-09-04

new ma uAmpdrLnnt work on HydrOphObia,
o. A very important work has just been is
sued on Hydrophobia lie Meitteur Preserv.
GtV, dc Ia Rage, Paris, 1860, svo., PIP. SAY, by
M. Samson, whose name is distinguished
among chemists by the discovery of dextrine
in the blood of animals. l say hydrophobia,
as that is the term generally recognized in
America, though M. Samson considers its use
lamentable error as leading to the belief
that dogs are not mad when they show no
horror of water. 1t tappears certain, on the
contrary, from many facts adduced by this
sdVdnt that in the majority of cases, when q
dog runs mad he is seized with burning
thirst which is often satisfied by drinking
abundantly. Other authorities testify 10 the
same fact, especially the English veterinary
author, Youatt. Another fact established by
M. Samson is that an animal may be attacked
by the disease, at the same time remaining
submissive to his master, and even caressing
him-which is, indeed, almost always the
case unless he is naturally fierce and intract-
able. Indeed, the poor brute often appears,
by yredoubled tokens of affection, to implore
the aid of his master TO relieve his terrible
sufferings. With those caresses, however,
may always be observed a. downcast, guilty
look which is one of the most certain symp-
toms of the disease.
AS it is difficult to describe this gloomy
look in print, NJ. Samson has introduced in
his book wood-cut representing, in very
vivid manner, the countenance of a mad
dog. A symptom of the approach of the
disease, on which the author laws great
stress, is an almost constant restlessness,
without apparent cause or motive. Ac-
cording to Youatt (whose work M. Samson
praises highly, and from which, indeed, he
has taken much of his best matter), the dog
runs about, to and fro, and is continually
getting I'm and lviuU down Ohio h ;e
position in every possible manner, He piles
his bed up in heap, and appears to take
great pleasure in resting his chest on it; and
then of sudden he will get up and push il
all away. If shut up, he will not remain a
moment in repose, but turns up and down
like Gagged tiger. If at liberty, he will ap-
pear to be searching some lost object, and
will dig in every hole and corner with great
eagerness, but with no fxity of purpose
His brain appears to be beset by phantoms
A case is given'in which dog undertook to
attack q cdU with great violence, and soon
afterward died mad. But besides these gen.
eral promonitory symptoms, there is one
which the author considers infallible Ap-
preaching madness impresses such a change
upon the vocal organs of the dog, that his
howl, once heard, can never again be mis-.
taken. So important is this sign deemed by
M. Samson, that he has tried to give by mu.
SlSdi uOtSS hOlle lued OI JllS raDlQ nOWllng,f
as he terms it, in its three principal varfe
ties.
He adds, that though this method may no
entirely succeed in conveying the right idea
"the hearing of the sound in nature, though
but a single time, produces an impression SC
distinct and SO profound that no one car
ever forget it." He also calls the attention
to the obtuse state of physical sensibility
manifested by the mad dog, upon which sub
| ject he relates many interesting facts. HI
examines the question of the poisonous prop
critics of the virus with great care, and find
that two-thirds, on the average, of persons
bitten, escape the disease, unless it be brough
on by terror, which he believes to be tn
most powerful predisposing cause. Taking
this view of the matter, he recommends tn,
use, for the purpose Of inspiring confidence
of almost any one of the almost innumerabl
receipts for hydrophobia that are every da,
brought before the public, provided tha
previously all the wounds by which tn
saliva could have reached the blood hav
been deeply cauterized with red-hot iron
All these remedies, according to him, ar
only valuable as they impart sense of Sc
curity to the patient. ugt.llet