Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-01-07
Pronounced a Humbug.

DR.. n. 4. Smith, q prominent physician oil
Baltimore whose attention was called to the
article from the Alexandria Gazette (which
may be found on our 6rst page,l pronounces
the mad stone humbug. He says;
"The stone is probably Of a slaty or chalky
nature. and porous. When dry it will adhere
to moist part, as such a substance will do to
the tongue. aud fall off when saturated with
moisture. That it has any affinity for the pol
son Of the rabid animal is too ridiculous to
meri. serious discussion. The evil resulting
from confidence in remedies so absurd Is that
II precludes the use of efficient means.
Upon the SUBJECT Of Hydrophobia DR..
Smith says:
The virus, which propagates hydrophoeia,
does not exist in the tooth, as with rattle
snake but in a saliva The poison merely be-
smears the tooth, as The lancet is coated with
virus in vaccinating. A distinguishing fact in
regard to its effect on the wounded part IS, that
il produces no irritation, no immediate effect.
1t has certain period of incubation, before
the system becomes affected, which is generally
about six weeks. Before constitutional disease
is developed, a slight irritation occurs in the
scar, aud a red list Of infamed absorbents is
seen extending mp the member. When the
phenomena takes place there is no hope. A
mere scratch from the tooth of rabbi animal
is far more dangerous than deep wound in-
ticted, for the reason that the effusion of blood
washes away the virus A bite through the
garments is not near so dangerous as the iuhic-
ton Of a wound immediately upon the skin
and flesh, for the reason that the saliva is
washed from the tooth in passing through the
clothing. Remedies should be applied mme-
diately. The part affected should be instantly
washed, again aud again, with soap and wa
ter. While the washingi is being done, send
Immediately 10 the nearest drag store for
piece of cauStic potash. If the tooth Of tie
animal has penetrated, cut the csuStc in the
shape Of pencil or dogs tooth, insert it in
the wound and hold It there firmly for quar-
ter of a minute without regard to the pain.
which will be SEVERE Causlic potash can be
made extempore by pouring boiling water on
wood ashes, Straining ont the lye and boiling
1t down 10 the consistency of molaSSes. 1t
may be applied with a smooth stick When
the wound is a scratch, aud therefore the more
dangerous, wipe it over brisky with the same
material. If the caustic potash cannot be
procured use nitric acid laquaforts,) or sui
phuric acid, loi of vitiiol) Milder caustics,
which do not. destroy the surface Of the wound,
are not worthy of confidence.
The Doctor closes his very instructive COM
munication with the following important in
formation:
1t is too common practice to kill instantly
a savage dog who has bitten person This is
exceedingly wrong, as the person lives for
years with the torturing apprehension that he
has been bitten by a rabid dog. The animal
should he shut up and regularly fed. If rab-
id, be will certainly die, but If he lives week
aud takes food there is no danger
1t is generally believed that canine madness
occurs almost exclusively in summer, and es-
pecially during what are termed the dog
days" This is a popular error. According
to the best authority, the disease is COMMUNE
Gated only by coutagion, and Just as likely to
be propsgated in winter as in summer, and
therefore city ordinances, which allow dogs to
be at large at one season and not at another,
are absurd.
In the course Of half a century have had
occasion u treat the bites Of dogs undoubtedly
rabid in niuny instances, and in not a single
instance have known the disease TO result
when the preventive measures were employed
within three days after the bite DO not
mean, however, to Justify a moments delay in
their application.