The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-07-06

II have ofren witnessed, slight inflammation
occurs In the bitten part, the SCR reddcns
itches. and becomes tumd. a narrow rec
/ line is seen extending from the scar towards
the trunk. This Is termed the incub baton OF
zymosis, and is analogous to the local alice
ton, or zyInosis, by which smallpox, vac
cine. and syphilis are introduced into the
| system.
Ii when child is vaccinated we allow the
point to which the virus is applied to be
washed or chafed Immediately after, no effect
will result. The same occurs In the in0cula.
| ton of smallpox. In the communication ef
syphilis it is universally admitted that, al
| though some think the poison applied il
sometimes ut once absorbed into tue blood,
generally small ulcer, with hard base, is first
| caused by the poison. and from this the virus
is absorbed into the blood and displays itself
in any part Of the system. All practitioners
are aware that if the moment the minute
chancre occurs caustic, commonly the nitric
acid, is applied, the occurrence Of the con-
stitutional disease will be prevented.
Now the venom of hydrophobia is pre-
cisely analogous to this, only, happily, the
period of incubation Of Matching is much
longer, furnishing ample opportunity-to ar
rest the disease. If i nerve transmitted the
morbid impression it would be instantane-
Gus, darting along the nervous cord like a
spark of electricity, and no remedy applied
to the part would produce the least effect.
Professor Hammond, it is we'll known, is
speciaIist-his speciality being the pathol-
ogy OF the nervous system. This leads him,
perhaps, to over-estimae the action Of the
| nervous system in the production OF disease,
and also the effects of remedies, as electric
ity in the cure of it.
The learned professor belongs to a sect Of
pathologists termed the ''SoldistS," who
! fouriShed about century ago, and who be-
lcved that the fluids (olood, &c., had little
or nothing to do with the production and
| display of disease.
If Professor Hammond is correctly report
| ed in the public prints, he ascribes far less
| Importance to local means, eXcsion, cautery,
&C., than do we who regard hydrophoba as
| the product of blood poison.
If he is correctly reported, he expects
great benefit from electricity as remedial
agent, but surely, if applied locally, it can
only hasten the zymoSis by which the poi.
son is introduced into the system, and if en-
ployed after the constitutional disease is es-
| tablished, it would have no other effect than
| to increase nervous excitement.
But facts are worth more than pages Of
speculation. and they prove that although
we have thus far accomplished nothing to-
| ward the cure of this terrible malady when
developed, we can rely with great conf
dence on preventive measures, and save
many valuable life by prompt recourse to
them.
l have myself treated with the cautery
more than hundred cases of persons bitten
by rabid dogs. In some cases | have cau-
| terized the wounds Of FIVE or six persons
bitten by the same dog. III not a single in
stance have | witnessed the development OF
| the disease in these cases.
Mr.. Iouatt, who is the very highest au-
thority on this subject, has been bitten Sc
ven times by rabd animals, and used no
other preventive means than abIution and
| cautery. He has also treated no less than
| four hundred persons bitten, and with sue
cess in every instance.
| There is another preventive expedent
| that strikes still deeper at the root OF the
evil: Hall every son Of a-dog in the State
| Of Naryiaud \. Il. SMITH.