Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-05
USEFUL HINTS ABOUT MAD DOGS.


Persons are liable to be bitten by mad
dogs under two sets of circumstances-frst,
when a rabid animal escapes from home
and is at large; and, secondly, when dog
not supposed TO be infected is careSsed by
his master or those who have to do with
him at home. Consequently, it is quite as
important that the public should be aware
of those slight indications which afford
ground for suspicion that the disease is
impending as that they should know the
Characteristic signs by which it may be re
cognized when it has declared itself.
The premOnitory indications of rabies in
a dog are derived almost entirely from the
observation Of changes in his demeanor;
consequently, although they may be too
trifiing to lie noticed by casual observer,
they are fortunately sufficiently striking to
arrest the attention of any one who is about
a dog, and is familiar with its habits and
individual peculiarities.
A dog about TO become rabid loses its
natural liveliness. 1t mopes about as if
preoccupied or apprehensiye, and seeks TO
withdraw into dark corners. From the first
there is usually a foreshadowing Of that
most constant symptom of the disease
deprayed appetite. Mad dogs not only
deyour filth and rubbish of every kind with
avidity, but even their own excrement-
often Immediately after it has been passed.
Indications Of this tendency appear early,
and are more than suspicious.
Along with this peculiarly OF behavior
it is of equal importance to notice that an
infected dog, from the first, snaps at other
dogs without prOvocation. This snapish-
ness in most dogs is very striking. II a dog
previously known to have no such habit
snaps indiscriminately at the first dog 1t
meets in the yard or in the street, 1t is
probably not safe.
So far have had in mind chiefly what is
to be observed in dogs tied up or at home.
A dog which is at large is also to be recog-
nized as in a dangerous state by its de-
meanor. A healthy dog in its progress
along a street or elsewhere shows at every
step that its attention is awake to thesightS
and sounds which it encounters. The rabid
dog, on the contrary, goes sullenly and un-
obseryantly forward, and is not diverted by
objects obviously likely to attract 1t.
This statement, however, is subject to
the important exception already referred to,
that it is excited both by the sight and
sound of an animal of its own species.
OF the symptoms which accompany the
final stage of the disease the most important
and Characteristic are those which relate to
the organs in which it localizes itself-the
mouth and throat. Attention is often
drawn to the condition Of the mouth IN an
animal supposed to be healthy by the OBJ
servation that it tries to scratch the corneri
of its month, as if attempting to get rid o.
the ropy mucus which is seen to be dis
charged from it. In dogs that aretied uI
il is noticeable that the bark has entirely
lost its ring, and acquired a peculiar hoarse-
ness, which can be recognized even by the
most unobservant. As the disease pro
crosses the discharge increases, the lower
law hangs as if paralyzel, and the animal
has evidently difficulty in swallowing
Along with this there is Of.en loss of power
of the hind limbs. IL now the dog /:
watched, the peculiarities OF behaviO
| which have been already noticed are seen Il
| press themselves in a much more marked
degree than before. 1t is observed, first
that it is subject to paroxysms OF excite
merit. in which it makes Often-Tepeate'
efforts to bie or gnaw all objects (such a
! woodwork, straw, etc., within its reach
while at the same time it continues to eX
hibit tie tendency already mentioned Il
devom its own excrement; and, secondly
even during the remissions its excitemen
is at once renewed by the sight of or soun'
of another dog.
Itmay be well to note that the diseas
occurs at all seasons, that the mad dog cor
tinues to recognize its master and TO mani
fest pleasure when kindly spoken TO, ths
it does not shun water, and that in man
cases from first to last that wildfuuy Thlc
is commonly supposed to belong to the di:
ease is conspicuously absent.