The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-01-20

mont to be affected by this false form
of hydrophobia. His son had recently
died of the disease, resulting from the
bite of rabid cat His father, in aid
ing to nurse him, received a speck of
the boy's saliva upon his lip. From
that moment he became tortured with
the apprehension that he had contract.
ed the disease, though assured that it
could not be thus communicated. AT.
ter short time the symptoms which
he had witnessed in the boy began to
display themselves. lie raved in the
most furious manner, refused water,
and frothed at the mouth. When any
one of the physicians present remarked
by way of encouragement, that certain
symptoms which marked the former
case were absent, the patient would
Immediately initiate those symptoms.
The man, however, from extreme ex-
haustion, fell into profound slumber
and walked well.
Now in regard to preventive treat.
ment, which is so efficient, and there
fore of vast importance, let it be re-
membered that mere scratch on the
hand or face is the most dangerous-a
bite through clothing not without dam
ger. AS the poison adheres to the part
for some time after the bite before it
produces the effect, let the wound be
instantly washed, again and again,
with soap and water. If a physician
were to vaccnate child in the arm,
and an hour after should wash the part
with soap and water, no effect would
result
The following case is in point: A
woman, the mother of the boy men,
toned above, was washing clothes in
her back yard, when rabid cat leaped
over the fence and attacked the boy,
clinging to him and wounding his
hands and face. The mother ran to the
rescue, seized the cat, tore it away from
the lad, and threw it over the fence. She
then returned to her work, and her
hands and arms were immersed in soap
and water for two hours. Nothing was
done for the boy, it not being known
that the cat was rabid. The mother es-
capped the disease, but the boy perished
miseraby.
While the washing is being done,
send instantly to the nearest drug.
gist for a piece of caustic potash
This comes in small cylindrical pieces.
If the tooth of the dog has penetrated,
cut the caustic in the shape of pencil
or Il dogs tooth, insert it in the wound
and hold it there firmly for a quarter of
a minute without regard to the pain,
which will be severe.
CauStic potash can be made extern
pore by pouring boiling water on wood
ashes, straining out the ley, and boiling
it down to the consistency of molas.
ses. 1t may be applied with a smooth
stick.
When the wound is scratch, ant
therefore the more dangerous, wipe il
. over briskly with the same material
If the caustic potash cannot be pro
cured, use nitric acid (aquafortis) OF
sulphuric acid, (oil Of vitriol.) Milder
caustics, which do not destroy the sur
face of the wound in which the poison
is lodged, are not worthy ofconfidence
although Mr.. Eouatt recommends tho
nitrate of silver, lunar caustic) The
part may be poulticed with bread ant
milk for two days, and then drosset
with simple salve.
1t is too common practice to kill in
stantly savage dog who has bitten
person. This is exceedingly wrong, n
the person lives for years with the tor
turing apprehension that he has beel
bitten by rabid dog. The anima
should be shut up and regularly fed. |
; rabid, he will certainly die, but if h
, lives a week and takes food there will
be no danger.
1t is generally believed that canin
madness occurs almost exclusively /
summer and especially during wha
) arc termed the "dog days" This is
. popular error. According to the bes
l authority, the disease is commutate
I only contagiOn, and just as likely to b
= propagated in winter as in summer an
therefore city ordinances, which allo,
dogs to be at large at one season an
are not at another are absurd.
l In the course of a half century
l have had occasion to treat the bites {
! dogs undoubtedly rabid in many il
l stances and not in Il. single instanC
have l known the disease to resu
e when the preventive measures wer
I employed within three days after tn
e bite. do not mean, however, to jus
a tify moments delay in their applies
a tion. N. r.. SMITH, M. ID.