Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-07-11
THE DOG QUESTION.
what Causes INSTRUMENTATION
OF Dogs, Etc.


posure to the sun, without the power of
retreat; unwholesome food remaining
undigested in the stomach heat, ex-
element and lack of nourishment, ac-
companied by continued WORKINGS
peltings and driving F; the constant wear
and tear of the whole nervous system,
produced by feas being allowed to ae-
cumulate the bite of a rabid dog or
venomous reptiles bones or any for
eign substance stuck in the jaw or
throat, these cause madness in dogs.
Some years ago had three cases of
decided madness-two caused by the
bite of venomous reptiles; the third by
sunstoke. Of course, safely and
securely chained all the patients and
marked their daily progress. The two
bitten subjects grew worse and worse,
till 1 relieved them by merciful death;
by putting cold water on the third one
three or four times day, and keeping
her in the cool shade with little light,
she gradually recovered, and afterwards
produced several litters of puppies, one
of which just lived long enough to be
swallowed by an alligator on the banks
of the Mississippi. Neither of these
dogs refused to drink, but the former
had lost all power of swallowing for
some time previous to my destroying
them.
Rabies caused by venomous bites Cor
objects sticking in the throat or jaws
is perhaps the most incurable, as it is
by no means advisable for the inexperi-
enced to risk an operation at the adj
vanced stage of the inflammation. I
believe many cures might be effected,
if the animals were only kept safely
bound in the shade and constantly
cooled with water 1 mean when the
cause may be indigestion, over excite
ment or sunstroke. When an animal
has been bitten by another known to be
mad, consider it the safest method to
destroy him y; although I have known
many dogs which have never been
affected by the bite. whilst others have
become its victims.
Dipping in salt water, three times
following, each time keeping the patient
till he is nearly exhausted, has been
thought to take such an effect upon the
system as to annihilate the venomous
power. True, I remember case in
England where two dogs were bitten by
a mad dog, within five minutes of each
other. One was a pointer, which was
plunged into salt water almost to death.
The other dog remained unnoticed and
unattended to, and went raving mad
and committed fearful ravages, while
the pointer never showed the most re-
mote symptoms of hydrophobia during
the remaining years of it's life. have
seen at Southampton, in England, people
almost ducked to death to avoid the
consequences of the bites of mad dogs,
and this was considered an all sufficient
safeguard.
But am rather slow at hasty infer
ences in the matter of mad dogs.
With regard to the pointer, his system
might not have been as susceptible OF
absorbing the virus as that of his I'M
lucky neighbor neither might he have
been as severely bitten as his unlucky
neighbor and, as it is well known that
all dogs will not be affected by bites OF
rabid animals, the pointer might have
belonged to the class of non-absorb.
ents. With reference to the persons
alluded to, they might have been bit
ten either by an imaginary mad dog Oh
by one whose nervous system was under
temporary arrangement.
The bites of really mad animals differ
widely in their poisoning powers, and
in many cases L imagine the danger
would be very trifing. The venom is
suing from really corrupt system
must differ widely in virulence from
that produced by simple nervous ex
citement. I have sften been bitten BY
dogs laboring under temporary de
rangement, and mad to all intents ant
purposes (f animals unconscious o
their acts may be termed insane), and
certainly have never felt any fear ant
but little inconvenience from it. Blu
the bite of a really rabid animal VIII,
has the disease fostering in his Who'll
frame is at all times to be dreaded
Neither the fits in distemper nor ordi
nary fits should be mistaken for hydro
phobia. They bear but little resem
blance to it. Fits in rabid animals ar
preceded by different premonitor
symptoms, and are generally the sequt
of train of incoherent, extraordinar
and unreasonable performances. I
all fits. however, the animal should b
handled very cautiously, as his unco1
seriousness may result in inficting il
jury where none was intended, an
bites are at all times more or less pc
sonous.
A person bitten by mad dog shoul
: have the wounded parts immediate
taken out by skillful surgeon, an
| the sore should be afterward thorough
7 ly burned out with lunar caustic.
: would also recommend the applicable
. of a dozen leeches to the neighbours
parts and soft poultice to encouray
the flow of blood to a limited exten
l while a bandage be tied above Il
9 wound, to lessen the circulation, t
q the operation be terminated. Coolil
: aperient medicines cannot be amis
= The treatment, however, should
( regulated through the advice of ski
d full practitioner.
J. From what have seen and heard
have some little faith in salt wat
ducking, and would certainly try it,
it would not be likely to do any iniul
Do not wait for doctor to cut out t
;, bite, if he be far off, and you have iud