River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-07-10
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.

The veterinary editor of the Prairie
Farmer gives the following description
of the symptoms of hydrophobia in
the animals and poultry of the farm
yard:
OF the origin, seat, and pathology OF
this fearful disease, there have been
various opinions, some considering it
conferred in the nervous system, and
some that the blood is poisoned by the
virus primarily, and the nervous sys-
tenn secondarily affected. Perhaps few
diseases have excited more intense in
terest than this, or have been the sub
iect of more writing and discussion.
For CENTURIES certain medicines and
specifics have been Wanted as cures
for hydrophobia, and some even rs pre-
ventives. Ihe public, however, should
be put upon their guard against be-
lieving in any such nonsense as spe-
cities, which only tend to mislead, and
may be productive of the grea est mis-
chief, by inducing belief in prevent
i've or cure, and SO putting the owner of
the rabid animal CT his guard.
In the horse the early symptoms con-
Sl0b III lG1ilC6SlltDSs htidttDll vi lliG Hu-
pills, spasmodic movement of the
angles of the lip, depressed and anxious
countenance, sort of inquiring gaze,
suddenly, however, lighted up, and be-
coming fierce and menacing from some
unknown cause, or at the approach OF
a stranger; and in mares or stations
there is evidence of active sexual ex-
element As the disease develOpes
itself, there are cramps, commissions of
the limbs and different parts of the
frame. and intolerance of light From
the congested and irritated state or
condition of the genito-ulnary organs,
there are more or less frequent at
tempts at stating, which IN the adj
vanced stage of the disease Is often at
tended with severe straining. The eye
will occasionally wander after some im-
apinary object There is the paroxys-
nal tendency to bite, but more gener-
ally attempts to run at and trample
down those who come III their way
difficulty of swallowing, modified VOICE
when the animal attempts to neigh, and
partial paralysis Of the hind extremi-
ties supervene. The dread OF water,
which the name hydrophobia implies,
is not present; but in the advanced
stage of the disease the horse may not
be able TO swallow water. Later the
animal suffers from commissions, cannot
rise. and dies generally between the
third and sixth day. There is only one
disease in the horse with which rabies
San he oonfounded, namely, inflammation
of the brain (phrentisl, and IN that the
absence OF consciousness, and III
milder cases, Of fear, so that no mortal
control whatever can be exercised
marks its nature, and clearly Ills.
tinguishes il from rabies, the victim t.
which is conscious to the last, and
though savage and violent in the eX
IRENE, is aEale Of the power 81 man.
and to some extent under his influence
The symptoms Of hydrophobia IN the
horse usually show themselves IN from
two 10 eight weeks after the animal has
been bitten.
In cattle the symptoms somewhat re
semble those exhibited by the horse
The saliva Of any rabid animal, ofwhat
ever species il may be, will communl
cate the disease to any other anlma
with whom il may come N Contact
The general cause, however, Of rahie
IN cattle IS the bite Of q dog q rabi'
dog enters herd Of cattle, and attack
and bites several, especially u they -
sist and fight the dog in return, III
symptoms observed are not immediate
nor does the wound inflicted by tn
rabid animal take an unhealthy action