Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-03-06
The Dog Madness.

The alarming prevalence of this COM
plant among dogs renders the considera-
ton and description of it interesting and
important. Except the occasional OBJ
servations of sportsmen nothing has been
written on this head that could give any
clear idea of the disease The writer of
the article published in the work before
me says he has attentively observed, dur
ing its whole progress, more than two
hundred cases, and had dissected nearly
hundred dogs which had died of the ma
lady; he presumes, therefore, that he must
be tolerably conversant with the subject
Much ignorance prevails in reference to
this disease. The peculiar symptom,
which characterizes the complaint
brought on by the bite of mad dog in
the human subject, has been applied to
disease of the dog, and has occasioned it
to be called by the same name, hydro
phobia. This, in the first place, is
palpable misnomer, for in no instance
does there ever exist any dread of water;
on the contrary, dogs are very greedy
after it. This, therefore, has led persons
into very fatal error, for it being the
received opinion that no dog was mad
who would drink water, many persons
have been lulled into dangerous securi-
ty. Another equally fatal error is that
every mad dog must necessarily be wild
and furious. But in far the greater num-
Der Of instances there is very little of that
wild, savage fury. Sportsmen distinguish
two kinds of madness, a dumb and a
raging; but the distinction is not always
clear
The varieties in the disease are i'm
mense. 1t is hard to say what is the first
symptom mat appears. Some con-
tend that the loss of appetite is the first
symptom, but this we consider in many
instances by no means the first. But a
certain popularity can be seen in the
manner of the dog, some strange depar-
ture from his usual habits, and this 5ecu-
liarity cannot be laid too much stress on,
for 1t IS almost invariably never failing
criterion Of madness This REGULARITY
consists in disposition to pick up straws,
bits of paper, rag, thread, or the smallest
objects that may lie on the floor. until it
is actually cleared of every small object.
This peculiar Characteristic is very com
mon in smaller dogs. AS the disease adj
vances, they do not spare the dogs they
are domesticated with, and, lastly, the
persons around. We speak of domesti
Gated dogs. In most cases there is a very
treacherous disposition observed. A dog
laboring under rabies, if called, comes.
Wags his tall, and shows every mark of
fondness, permits himself to be noticed.
and seems pleased with attention, but on
sudden he turns and snaps.
1t is not every mad dog that makes
noise. Some have g. violent inflamma-
ton of the mouth and throat, producing
an entire inability to bark; this is term.
ed dumb madness. But where any noise
is made, which occurs in two thirds of
the cases that happen, this very noise
forms the truest character of the disease
1t consists in very remarkable short
howl or heightened bark, for it partakes
OF both and is so totally unlike ANYTHING
besides, that when once heard it can new
er be forgotten or mistaken It is COM
monty made with the head held up in the
air. There is great distress apparent in
the countenance, with a quick, anxious
look; the eyes are always red, frequently
so lnfiamed as to produce matter, and the
sight, in some instances, becomes decep-
tive and they snap at objects they fancy
they perceive. Gnawing is almost in
variable with them; boards, chains, the
vessel that holds their food or water is
gnaWed, Or taken up and shaken to pieces.
In many the attempt to escape is very
great. This anxiety to escape is a very
remarkable trait of the disease. It is not
the effect of delirium, as is supposed, nor
pain; on the contrary, when a dog es-
capes he returns home again unless wor-
rled and hunted But it is, as it were, a
peculiar anxiety to propagate the disease,
Tor he travels industriously seeking OBJ
Jects to bite; horses, cows and sheep, but
particularly dogs, he anxiously seeks.
Much less frequently does he attack hui
man beings. Having tired himself, un-
less molested, he returns home. Washing
ton Chronicle.