Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1873-06-05


Map Docs The bark" says Al The
Year Round, (which is peculiar to mad
ness Is the symptom most easily recognized
BY unprofcssional persons. That bark has
."st its usual strength; its tcne is mourn
fu'; 1t is hollow. stitiei. dcgenera,ing into
three or four half uttered howls. pro iuc-
ing plaiatve and singular effect on the
ear. The first symptoms of canine mad
ness are sull nncss of temper and an
involuntary restle.sncss which mauires,s
itself by continual change of position.
Instead of being snappi>h or aggressive.
the dog tries 10 hide himself. Daring
this first period he does not always refuse
his food or his drink.
soon. however. he begins TO loathe
both. Then comes on an irresistible de-
sire to bite; to crafty which he tears,
crushes with hi. teeth, and swallows all
sorts Of things which are useless as food.
A young dog certainly will tear things
for fun. but he will not swallow them.
whereas pos'-mortcm examinations Of
mad dogs show their stomachs to be-
full Of sticks. straw. wool. stones. and
other indigestible substances. Consc-
qucntly every dog past puppyhood. who
cannot be prevented from dragging about
and destroying the carpets and cushions
in the house. ought Immediately to be
placed under strict surveillance. The
same prccaution should be taken with
dogs who show themselves unusually ag-
grcssivc toward other animals of the same
species. Indeed. a symptom of madness
no, to be neglected is the impression made
on the mad dog by the dog in good health.
Immediately The sick animal perceives tho
healthy one. it ofrage is the consequence.
At Abort this very test is had recourss
to in doubtful cases. When the patient
is shown another dog. if truly mad he
does his utmost TO &c: at him. and if al
lowed to do so, he bites him furiously.
"Curiou>ly y enough all animals Of what
ever species. when suffering under canine
madness, are similarly affected By the pres
ence of a dog. All arc equally irri,ated.
and manifest the same desire to attack the
dog ; the horse with his feet and teeth
the ram and the bull with their horns:
even the sheep. gone mad butts at the
dog. Sill more curiously, the anger Of
the ailing animal seems especially direc-
ted against the species Of animal by which
the disease was communicated to il. For
instance. a horse inoculate6 at Afford from
a mad sheep. contracted the disease in its
most exaggerated form. since he tore tho
skin of his own forelegs off with his teeth.
But when sheep was put before him, be-
was Immediately seized with n paroxysnr
Of rage, and the poor creature in no timc
was bitten to death.
The tendency of human patients To
bite has been imagined, or enormously ex.
aggerated. There is no case of the dis
case having been communicated from one
human being to another The friends Of
sufferer may therefore fearlessly and
chalitably nurse him. without employing
any greater precaution. or any more vio.
lcnt or barharous means. than the strait
waistcoat during the crisis. His mind re-
quires support and calming. rs much rs
his body. Moral remedies are most efi-
cacious; indeed. material remedies. il nav
he believed. derive much of their influence
from their moral effect. Every effort should
be made to divert the patients attention
from the fxe9 idea which masters him
Even superstitious fancies have rendered
good service.