The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-09-16

4 writer IN the August number Of Rirrt t.ruDi
treat, with great minutcncsJ Of mad los- ard
the terrible disease of hydrophohit lie makes
some astonishing statements. liu asserts that
almost overy popular notion concerning mad
dogs and hydiophohia, is an error. For in
stance Samson, a French authority in such
matters assures us that in dogs So far from a
dread Of water bcng an invarIablc symptom Of
madness, it is ono which does not show itself
more than once in fifty eases. The fact j. that
a burning thirst Is one OF th, characteristic
symptoms Of TdJi0s IN it, early 80 sos: aud
hence the commonly received belief that II 4
suspected dog laps water no Is not dangerous, /,
at once unioundod aud unsafe. Tho dog which
runs mad may drink, but the man whom he
bites cannot endure the presence OF water.
Another popular error attributes the mIdnrs
OF dogs 10 the heat oi dog days. In july Md
August all kinds Of precautions are taken whch
no ono thinle OF for a moment in November aud
December, a patcrnal police is infinitely suli-
citous in summer about. II 50 happens that
July and August are precisely the months in
which the iewost cases occur. Against the
loose estimate Of popular opinion We can place
the exact records Of the veterinary schools Of
Alfort, Toulouse and Lyons and these show that
il is not the hotta months, hut in the Wctiesi
months that tho great majority of clsos are seen.
In April, November and December tho recorded
cases are double and triple those in Pune, July
and August.
That "hcat Of tho weather" il not the cause
Of rabies i, striking proved by the fact that in
hot countries the disease is rare, and in some
even unknown. Cur, Of the most wrotchcd de-
scription abound in the island Of Madeira; they
are afflicted with almost every disease, tor
mented by fics, ind heat, aud thirst and
famine, vet no rabid dog was ever seen there.
On the contrary, one thousand -iN hundred AMI
sixty-siN deaths from hydrophobia in tie human
SUBJECT are stated to have occurred in Prussia
IN the space Of ten years.
,IGNs oT Madness.
One of the earliest sgns, and one " hich should
always arouse attention on the part nl those in
charge OF a dog is SHlieaaess continued ~M
iige,iness The dog rotircs 10 his bed or basket
tor hours. AMI may be seen there curlod up his
face buried Between his paws and breast. lie
shows no disposition to bite, aud will answer 10
the call, but he answers slowly AMI sullonly.
After while he becomes restless, seeking out
new resting places and never satisfied long with
one. lie then returns to his bed, but cOntiml-
ally shifts his posture. lie rises up and lies
down again, settles his body in variety Of pos
itions, dispO,es his bel with his paws shaking
it in his mouth, bringing il to a heap, on which
he carefully lay, his chest, and then rises mp
and bundles il all out Of his kennel or basket.
fiat liberty he will seem to imagine that some
thing is LOST, and lac will eagerly search round
the room with strange violence and indc'ision.
That dog should he watched II he begins To
gaze strangely about him as he lies in bed, and
II his comtenance is Cloudod and suspicious, We
may bc certain that madness is coming on.
Sometimes he comes 10 those whom he loves.
and fixes on them steadtast gaze as If, ac-
cOrding to Mr.. iOuatt, he would ,av. II feel
strangely i'll have YOU nothing 10 do with
h2"
Tho observation Of all veterinary surgeons
proves that not only is there no great dispIsi-
ton to bite manifested in the early stages OF the
disease. except by dogs naturally ieroclous, but
that on the contrary, there j. IN increas' oi
aiicctiuuatencss often shown.
An early symptom, easily rogoInlItblc, is a
violent scratching OF the ear; and another Is
depressed appetite, and here, also, Is symptom
worthy Of remembrance. II the wrll-trainCd,
well.behaved dog m,cOnducts himself in the
room. where. hitherto he has been perfectly
clean, and if he is -oon pcrsovcrngly examining
and licking those places, he may At oncr be pro-
nouncod mad. II never knew single mistake
about this, saws Mr.. Iuuatt.
Tho paving at the corners of the mouth is
another symptom, and dangerous one, because
il Is 80 often mistaken a. sign that there Is a
bone sticking in the throat.
Remember, that il is the saliva, not the bite,
which is dangerous and YOU will understand
that il l. ~ bad 10 be- licked by a ribid animal
q, to be- bitten. If the part licked he a wound or
an opou surface or even a mUruous membrane.
4 woman once died rom hydrophobia after hay
ins suffered q dog fu lick pimple ON her chin.
Horses aye ,uid 10 have died mad after eating
Law mou viii h mhii pigs had died. MI Gil
man iu I- pumpll' It on hydTophoha, quolc-
iL.. ,,sr of "A iuau whose ia.r was licked, while
,lrrp b, a r,'id dog: nnl hc diri. although
rh,. .r.tc.t ,rarh failed tu discover the smallest
scratch upon the kin.