Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-07-04
FACTS ABOUT HYDRoPHoBIA.

/ in different parts of the country,
/ and especially in New York, have
created considerable alarm among
sensitive and nervous people, that
it is well to do something to allay.
In The case Of Mccormick, the last
victim in New York, an autopsy
was made Immediately after his
death by eminent physicians. 1t
was conducted with unusual scien-
tific care and skill, but all the re-
suits have not yet been made pub
| lie. Whether the poison of rabies
acts directly upon the blood or
nerves is likely to be decided by
the investigation. The explanation
of the effort Of patients afflicted
with the disease to "bark like Il
dog" is very satisfactory the fact
of its being merely an endeavor to
get rid OF an extraordinary flow of
saliva, having been demonstrated
by the cessation of the symptom
when powerful medicine check ed
the flow. The expression of alarm
in the countenance of the patient,
| the convulsive action of his mus
cIes, and the Uranium disclosed by
the p0st-m0rtem examination of
Mccormick, indicate that the brain
was affected and these and other
| features of the case distinctly show
| that at the time of the illness the
irritation from the wound had long
since ceased to be an active factor.
From these facts the New York
N...k,,.ao 1n1.,nnA, -
The poison from rabies must pen
citrate the system before its most
serious effects can be elected, and
fortunately it is slow in making its
way from the seat Of injury to vi
tai parts. Obviously the thing to
do when bitten is to prevent the
transmission of the virus into the
system, and there is plenty of time
to carry out measures for this pur-
pose. In most cases a bandage can
be Immediately applied above the
wound, will obstruct the circula-
ton temporarily. 1t is probable
that sucking the wound would at
once withdraw the poison; at all
events the knife of the surgeon and
the cautery offer absolute security.
This view is corroborated by the
observation that in most cases of
hydrophobia, and notably in the
one MISREPRESENTATION, the wound
has not bled freely, flow of blood
being likely TO wash away the poi
son.
So that, after all, people who are
timorouS on the subject of HYDRO
phobia may console their fears
with the reflection that in the ex-
tremely improbable event of their
being actually bitten by dog that
is really mad, tightly bound
handkerchief and the nearest
apothecary shop can provide the
means for promptly and complete
ly eliminating all possibility of Sc
rious results.
The New York Boald Of Trade
has issued a few concise directions
giving the most important early
symptoms of hydrophobia in
dog, with the proper precautions
to be adopted, which is Insufficient
importance to warrant its republics
cation at this time, in our columns
DIRECTIONS FOR PREVENTION OF
HYDROPH0BIA.
|. 4 dog that is sick, from any
cause, should be watched and treat
ed carefully until his recovery.
II, A dog that is sick and rest
less is an object Of suspicion. This
is the earliest peculiar symptom of
hydrophobia.
III. A dog that is sick and rest
less and has depressed appetite. .
gnaWing and swallowing bits Of
cloth, wood, coal, brick, n0rtar,or +
his own dung, is dangerous ami .
NAL He should be at once chained /
up, and kept in confinement until .
his condition be clearly ascertained I.
w. If, in addition to any or all .
of the foregoing symptoms, The .
dog has deluSion of the senses, APP +
pearing to see or hear imaginary
sights or sounds, trying to pass
through a closed door, catching at .
flies in he air when there are none, /
or searching for something which .
does not exist, there is great prob
ability that he is, or is becoming
hydrOphObic. He should be secur- /
ed and confined without delay.
V In case any one is bitten by Il
dog whose condition is suspicious,
the most effective and beneficial
treatment is to cautcrize the wound
at once with a stick OF silver nj .
trate, commonly called lunar eau
site" The slick of caustic should (
be sharpened to a pencil point, in
troduced quite to the bottom Of the
wound, and held in contact with
every part of the wounded surface
until it is thoroughly cauterized