Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-07-24
The Rarity Of HydrOphObla.

DIR. Edward >. smith, an ola ana eN-
perienced veterinary surgeon, has given
the following opinion about hydrophobia,
its causes and its preventives:
"When person has been bitten by a
mad dog it is generally thirty or forty
days before any development of the dis
ease is perceptible, or he becomes af-
fected with the disease. The first symp-
toms of hydrophobia are as follows: The
bitten part becomes very painful, and the
whole system begins to be affected. The
wounded part becomes hard and ele-
vated, and sharp pains shoot from 1t
through the entire system to the brain.
"The terror of having it is altogether
out of proportion to the danger of
taking it. The actual danger, in fact, of
having hydrophobia is not a fiftieth part
so great as of being struck with lightning,
about which people have comparatively
but very little concern. And our advice
to all who may be bitten by a dog and
who wish to avoid all bad results there
from, is to have the bitten part laid open
by the knife to the very bottom as soon
SebpeS S pSfsiPlS SSd fer Is tfh oagi6Ra RaeRse the
parts with a strong solution of table salt
and water. After drying the parts well,
cauteriZe. the wound with nitrate oi
silver, and be sure you get to the bottom
of the wound with your caustic. Wet
the diseased part several times a day
with a strong solution OF crude carbollc
acid. The sooner this is done, the safer
the patient; and if properly done soor
after the bite, the success will be almost
certain, and the patient need have nc
apprehension of the consequences. Hav
ing been bitten by dogs myself several
times during my veterinary practice, ant
knowing of several other persons who
have been bitten by dogs when sick,
have treated them in the manner here
described No bad results whatever have
ever occurred therefrom.
"Mr Butler, I believe, did not die o
| hydrophobia, but of lock jaw, or tetanus
Tetanus is generally developed in from
eight to twelve days after the wound i
received, or the injury which is the caus
of it. II may, however, arise from irri
tating substances in the stomach, ant
exposures to cold while the pores ar
omen and the body is in profuse perspi
ration. The lock- jaw is much more FIRE
ouent in warm than cold weather.
"If we set apart one case out of ever,
hundred of cases reported as canine mac
ness, we should over-estimate the nun
Der of animals suffering from this forr
and character of disease. The animal
suffering from mental arrangement {
the brain. The cause of this abnOrmi
state of the brain is the want of prope
hygienic care; their food has been scant
and in most cases putrid, or else the dog
have been unable to procure water, an
they must suffer at the hands of stree
roughs of all ages. What can we expe'
from this cruel and inhuman treatmeI
other than crazed brain and great e.
citement of the nervous system?
"I should mention one point. Man
female dogs are said to have hydroph'
bia. In an experience of twenty-tiN
years devoted to veterinary service hay
never seen female dog afflicted wit
this disease; nor have seen a we.
authenticated case recorded by any a
thority, And can in truth assert tn
in forty-nine cases out of every nj
where persons have been bitten by dog
and have died, the disease has been loc
jaw and not hydrophobia. IN r. Po