The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1874-07-04
HYDROPHOBIA.
How TO Tell When Dogs Are Mad, and
What TO Do I'm Cases OF Rabies.


How 10 Tell When Dogs Are Mad, and
what TO Do In Cases OF Rabies.
The following timely letter appears
In the columns of the London Times
During the last few months an unusu-
al number of dogs have been affected
with hydrophobia in the metropolis, as
well as In other parts of the United
| Kingdom. From the circumstance that
several cases of the disease have very
lately occurred in the practice of the
| Brown institution, as well as from infor-
| nation received from other sources.
/ there seems to me to be some reason I'd
| fear that it is still rather widely preva-
| lent.
AS the danger to the public which
| arises whenever this is the case, how
| ever horrible in itself, is one which can
be avoided by the possession of the re-
| quisite information, il is clearly desira-
BILE, even at the risk of exciting alarm
| in the miods of few sensitive persons,
| that such information should be commu-
nicat ed for the general good. have,
therefore, put down in as plain words as
possible what appear to me to be the
iilyst ttsf seeeSnst stiap
of rabies in the dog. In doing so I
have been assisted by the experienced
NcicIlHdIf bilTReOu Ol the DEORH
titutiOn, Mr.. Duguid, and by my friend
Mr.. Hunting, of Derby street, Mayfair,
who has paid special attention to the
disease. I have also the advantage of
writing with an actual case under my
observation.
Persons are liable to be bitten by mad
dogs under two sets of circumstances I:
first, when a rabid animal escapes from
home and is at large and, secondly,
when dog not supposed TO be infected
is caressed by its master or those wha
have to do with ii at home. Consequence
ly, it is quite as important that the pub
lie should be aware of those slight in
dications which afford ground for the
suspicion that the disease is impending,
as that they should know the character
istic signs by which it may be recog-
nized when it has declared itself.
The premonitOry indications of rabies
in a dog are derived almost entirely
from observation of changes in its de-
meanor consequently, although they
may be too trifing to be noticed by a
casual observer, they are fortunately
sufficiently striking to arrest the atten-
tion of anyone who is about a dog and
familiar with its habits and individual
peculiarities.
A dog about to become rabid loses its
natural iveliness. 1t mopes about as if
preocupied or apprehensive, and seeks
to withdraw into dark corners. From
the first there is usually foreshadow-
ing of that most constant symptom of
{ he di4ase-depraved appetite. Mad
dogs not only devour filth and rubbish
of every kind with avidity, but even
their own Accommodation immediate |
ly after it has been passed. Indications |
of this kind appear early and are more /
than suspicious.
Along with this peculiarity of beha- |
vior it is of equal importance to no. /
tice that an infected dog, from the |
first, snaps at other dogs without pro- |
vocation. This snappishness in most /
dogs in very striking. If dog previ-
Ously known to have no such habit |
snaps indiscriminately at the first dog /
it meets In the yard or in the street, it 4
is probably not safe.
So far have had in mind what is to |
be observed in dogs tied up at home. |
A dog which is at large is also to be /
as in a dangerous state by |
its demeauor. A healthy dog in its |
SHOWS ab every sTep 6nA5 ats s.ssoa.v1t,.S =. 7
awake to the sights and sounds it en-
counters. The rabid dog, on the con-
y
forward, and is not diverted by objects
obviously likely to attract it. This
however, is subject to the
important exception already referred to,
that it is excited by the sight and sound
IF an animal of its own species.
Of the symptoms which accompany
,he final stage of the disease, the most
important and characteristic are those
which relate to the organs in which 1t
locates itself--the mouth and throat.
Attention is often drawn to the condi-
ion of the mouth in an animal sup
posed to be healthy by the observation
hat it tries to scratch the corners of its
mouth, as if attempting to get off the
.opy nSucus which is seen to be dis
charged, from it. In dogs that are tied
I'D it is noticeable that the bark has en-
.irely lost its ring, and acquires pecu-
lar hoarseness, which can be recognized
sven by the most unobservant. AS the
disease progresses the discharge in
,reases, the lower jaws hang as If par
alyzed, and the animal has evidently
difficulty in swallowing. Along with
his there is often loss of power of hind
limbs. If now the dog is watched, the |
peculiarities of behavior which have |
been always noticed are seen to present /
in a much more marked de- |
gree than before. 1t is observed, first, !
that it is subject to paroxysms of excite
ment, in which it makes often-repeated |
efforts to bite objects (such as wood, |
straw, etc. ) within its reach, while at |
the same time it continues to exhibit |
the tendency already mentioned to de-
your it's own excrement; and, secondly, |
even during the remissions, its excite
ment is at once renewed by the sight oHI
sound of another dog.
1t may be well to note that the dis.
ease occurs at all seasons, that the mad
dog continues to recognize its master
and manifest pleasure when kindly
spoken to, that it does not shun water,
and that ia many cases from the first to
the last that wild fury which is common
ly supposed to belong to the disease is
absent.