The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-07-02
HYDROPHOBIA.
What II is and what Causes it.


The New York City Sanitary Com
mittee give the following facts regard
ing hydrophobia, a subject which is
attracting so much attention at this
time, owing to the immense number of
people who have suffered and died from
the terrible disease:- tLlL
Hydrophobia is a disease peculiar to
animals of the canine and feline races,
the dog, wolf, fox, cat, etc. Its origin,
except by actual incubation, is un-
known. 1t may be inoculated by lick
ing a raw surface as well as by a wound
with the tooth. Its occurrence and
prevalence are not materially affected
by the seasons of the year, nor by eli
mate. It is perhaps slightly more fre-
quent in the spring months, but it oc-
ours alike in the coldest regions of
Canada and the hottest districts of the
East and West Indies. OF those bitten
by animals known to be rabid but a
small percentage are affected. namely,
five to twenty per cent. This is largely
due to the fact that the saliva OF the
rabid dog is so far removed by the hair
of the animal or clothes of the person
bitten that none of it enters in the
wound. The male dog is far more
liable to be affected than the female.
Pet dogs confined to the house and
family are as liable to develop hydro
phobia as dogs at large. The muzzling
of healthy dogs and those allowed in
the streets is at best a most imperfect
preventive measure. II the animal is
rabid he can readily infict wound
with the metallic muzzle, and thus in
oculate the victim. Ii he is not rabid
the muzzle will prove q species of cru
city and annoyance far more likely to
produce canine madness than to pro.
tect against it. 1t would prove far
more effective against the nuisance OF
the rowing herds of vagrant ours in our
streets if the ordinance forbid any dog
in the street which did not wear col
lar having the owners name and resi-
dence engraved upon it. 1t might also
Prove of much service if the public
were better informed as to the early
symptoms OF hydrophobia in the dog.
These symptoms are thus given by an
eminent veterinary surgeon:
There are no premonitory signs of an
attack of the disease in the dog. When
the period of incubation (three to seven
weeks) is passed, the animal is restless,
dull, watchful, and snaps at dogs, other
animals, or men, which come in its
way. 1t shuns the light, but with much
slyness seeks an opportunity of escape,
and roves about town or country, mani.
Testing extraordinary powers of exer.
ton and marked insensibility to blows
and ill-usage. The habits of an animal
may not change completely at first, and
the recognition of persons it has been
in daily contact with is sometimes very
remarkable. The dilated pupils, the
manner in which the eyes follow any
object moved before them, and the pc.
culiar modification of the bark, which
is more of the nature of q howl, are
among the characteristic symptoms
The appetite is lost, thirst often con
siderable, and the animals usually drink
without difficulty. The coat is staring,
skin-tight on the ribs, abdomen tucked
up, head depressed, and nose pro-
truded, with dirty mouth and tongue
and sometimes a discharge of mucous
and saliva from the sides of the mouth
In O certain number of cases the ner
vous symptoms are very prominent al
this period, and the lower jaw DROPS
from paralysis Of the muscles connect
ed with it. The howl is then lost, hence
the name of dumb rabies. Emaciatio1
and craving after filth, which is swal
lowed with some difficulty, are among
the noticeable symptoms. There is {
singular absence of any marked accei
Grafton of the pulse and breathing dur
ing the disease the animal sinks, Otter
paralyzed in the hind quarters, and die
somewhat TRANQUILITY from the fourth t;
the eighth day.
Dogs or cats suffering from thes,
symptoms should be at once de
stroyed,