Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-07-23
Ghe Rarity of HydrOpho bia.

DR.. Edward S. Smith, an old and ex.
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-
waited, and sharp pains shoot from it
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 fftieth 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
as possible after the accident has hap
pened, and to thoroughly cleanse the
parts with a strong solution of table salt
and water. After drying the parts well,
CctIJCIILS llC NOulN Will IllJIdbC vi
silver, and be sure you get to the bottom
of the wound with your caustic. Wet
the diseased part several times day
with a strong solution of crude carbolic
acid. The sooner this is done, the safer
the patient; and if properly done soon
after the bite, the success will be almost
certain, and the patient need have no
apprehension of the consequences. Hav-
ing been bitten by dogs myself several
times during my veterinary practice, and
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, believe, did not die of
hydrophobia, but of lock-aw, or tetanus.
Tetanus is generally developed in from
eight to twelve days after the wound is
received, or the injury which is the cause
of it. 1t may, however, arise from irri-
tating substances in the stomach, and
exposures to cold while the pores are
open and the body is in profuse perspi-
ration. The lock-jaw is much more fire.
quent in warm than cold weather.
eff we set apart one case out of every
hundred of cases reported as canine mad
ness, we should Over-estimate the num-
DCl VI duIllldlS SuHClII5 lIOl1 JIlS 1OIII
and character Of disease The animal is
suffering from mental arrangement of
the brain. The cause Of this abnormal
state of the brain is the want of proper
hygienic care; their food has been scanty
and in most cases putTid, or else the dogs
have been unable to procure water, and
they must suffer at the hands of street
roughs of all ages. What can we expect
from this cruel and inhuman treatment
other than a craZed brain and great ex-
citement of the nervous system?
| should mention one point. Many
female dogs are said to have hydropho-
bia. In an experience of twenty five
years devoted to veterinary service have
never seen a female dog afflicted with
this disease; nor have l seen a we'll
authenticated case recorded by any au-
thority. And I can in truth assert that
in forty-nine cases out of every fifty
where persons have been bitten by dogs,
and have died, the disease mas been lock-
jaw and not hydrophobia. N. r Post.