Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-04-24
lCoMMUNICATED.
The Mad Dog.

been the companion or man; ana the lOnuncSS
which maintains reciprocity OF attachMept
between them, Is strong as 1t 10 surprising,
and Notwithstanding its name IS made, by
common usage the synonym of impurity, base
ness and treachery, men will have their dogs,
and. in some instances, manifest in the care OF
them. solicitude like that which parent
shows for child; and they will, now and then,
not ONLY risk their own lives in the protectl on
Of their dogs, but will absolutely take that OF
their fellowman in angry quarres upon sub
iects connected with them. Hence, IN conSe-
nuence of this relation, it is not at all wonder
tul, that the dog does occasionally COMMUNICATE
to man by its bite, the peculiar polson! OF Its
fatal disease; and that it's hair, like the clothes
Of its owner, does sometimes bear the tenacious
qualities of infections and contagious diseases
among men.
The most terrible disease whcl: the dog thus
communicates, is Hydrophoba; and i'll order to
avoid such catastrophe, it Is not only ncccS-
sary to shun his compauionShlp, but to under
stand the symptoms which indicate The malady
Rabies of the dog like Hydrophobla ol man,
is divsible into three stages, first, secoud and
third. The first stage, dates from the recep-
active symptoms of the effect Of the presence
of the virus, and is known us the
time of Incubation. The second stage COM
mences with the characteristic symptoms OF the
disease, and terminates with 4 visible failure OF
the vital powers to resist the force Of the poison,
and is recognized Us the period OF yncradeScclcr.
The third stage begins with the confirmed symp-
toms Of the disease, is attended with increasing
exhaustion, and always terminates in death.
The first stage has nothing remarkable con
nected with it. The wound>inficted by therabid
animal goes on, like any other wound, to heal
and in due time, becomes well, leaving scar
,f ;nb la,
the hide or skin The duration Of this stage is
exceedingly unsettled, and varies from three
weeks to nine months; and the probability is
that liza dog does not 20 mad within this time,
he will not be affected ut ALL and that he was
either not inoculated, or his nature was proof
against the virus for all dogs are not alike sus
ccptible to the poison; and the blood of some of
them, will refuse it ut one time, and receive it
at another period under inexplicable eircum
stances While thiSis true of the inferior ami
NAL, it is also applicable to the human subject,
and the manner Of the inflictlon of the bite, in
almost every instance determines the intrusion
or non intrusion of the virus into the wound
For example, if one hundred individuals were
bitten by a rahid dog, through one or two ar
ticcs of clothing, the chances would be highly
in their favor, that not one in twenty-five OF
this number, would be inocculated; but it the
same number were bitten in the face, or about
the hands, the likelihood is even then, that not
more than one. half would receive lnoculatlon
and die of Hydrophobia, while the other half
would escape without any other Inconvenience
than that of the dread Of the disease. The cx
PLANTATION is, that the virus is wiped from the
tooth while passing through the hair Of the
brute and the clothing Of the human, and that
all animals of the same species are not alike
susceptible to the disease This fact affords
relief to those who are laboring under appre-
henson of the disease, and indicates to those
who handle rabid dogs, and hydroph6bie per
sons, to be very careful not to approach either,
without having the hands we'll protected by
stout gauntlets. ,ap
The second stage, is called the period OF re-
c7u1esceace, because the scar becomes raw, sore,
or opens afresh, giving rise to thin watcry
discharge from It. The dog indicates this CON
dition, by eagerly licking or gnawing the seat
of the bite inflicted weeks or months before,
and which had, for a long time, heen healed,
but now grows so hot and painful, that the dog
is forced to lick and gnaw it, in order to relieve
the distress thus evinced This is the actual
beginning of the disease, and accompanying this
condition of the scar, there is a very evident
change in the natural or usual disposition of
the dog. He becomes dull and sulen, and
does not meet, with his wonted famili
arity, the caresses of his owner. If un-
tied, he will seek qniet, and hide himself
in some secret place, and will not be induced to
leave it, by either offers of food, or advances of
kindness At this period, he steadily refuses
to eat, and if undsturbed, he will lie quietly,
until the distressing feeling about his mouth
and throat drives him to seek water, to appeasc
his extreme thirst If he obtains water he
usually laps it with avidity, and it seems inl-
possible for him to allay his eager desire for it.
If he cannot get to water, he will lick the sur
faces of such cold substances as he may find, i'll
order to relieve the heat of his mouth II
confined he will be restless, and constantly
changing his position to rid himself of the
light and sound about him. Restraint adds
much to his distress. and often makes him more
violent than he would be, if allowed to seek tho
positions which his instinct indicates. His
whole appearance shows him to be very un
comfortable, and his gaze bears all the marks OF
an intense suspicion He regards all that goes
on about him, with y fixed expression, evident
ly fearing that every movement is intended
for his injury. All his scnsbities are acutcly
aroused aud this excitaton makes him irritable
and indiSposed to he disturbed. These symp
toms last for one two days, and are succeeded
by others more violent and confrn,atnry uf the
disease The dog 5 general aspect is now, lear
and distressed His fanks are hollow and hcav
inc and he stands in aSttfcnca position, with hi
ears and tail dropped. His nose is kept almost o,
aTne with his body and his eyes glare and gliste
with prcternatural 6ercrncss. His cyeid
.re stretched wildly open, presenting to vieN
fully one half of the globes of the eyes. Th
muscles about the face occasionally twltch, AN
his lips are slightly separated, showing par
tially his teeth, through which issues, III
foanlhke manner, thick, white and tenaelou
saliva, which, collecting upon the hair abou
his mouth, gives him very dangerous all
revolving expression Ifhc is unconfin!ed, an
is now approached with 4 stick or WHIP y !
tractahlc temper, but will get rapidly out I
the way making his exit At the nearest pom
of egress, and makes off at a. smart pace
rarely biting ohieces unless in his immediat
way. His condition now is very apparent, an