The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-20

taken In our own country have given similar
results. except that the numbers OF cases occur
ring with us are shown TO be greater in winter
than In summer. But 1t should be remembered In
considering these statistics that not more than
ton Herald. an English journal, says-'During the
last half century scores OF persons have been
bitten by animals reported rabid, but 1t is remark
able that not single instance can be addnced In
which any human creature has been subject TO
the Which sucn ete syS sad nScua
THE NFREoUENcY OF HYDRopHoBlA,
reference may be had to the Pennsylvania report,
which says that the Philadelphia Hospital mas
WITHIN the memory OF living man had but two
cases, and the report OF one OF them shows that
there satisfactory evidence that the patient
had ever been bitten by any animal The statistics
OF our New York hospitals and those OF Paris
scarcely frequent enough to keep alive belief IN
The existence of the disease. The dry figures
have given are OF value because they establish two
facis:-Frst, that the so-Called disease Is not by
any means, as prevalent as ls generally supposed
TO be; and second. that it IS as liable to occur In
winter as in summer From all the circumstances
Se can easily decide how absurd and barbarous
the law is tor muzzling dogs during the summer
Which should not be lorgotten-the muzze does
not prevent hydrophobla N the DOG, but
disease. The dog finds his principal relief, in hot
weather, in painting open mouthed. He does not
ana consequently depends much upon the rapid
inhalation OF cool air into his lungs. The muzzle
makes the best natured dog irritable, and finally
others is free access TO water necessity. He
viii drink from ten to fifteen times day, which to
him Is undoubtedly means or preventing disease.
thousands OF these faithful servants Die every
summer IN this city, OF wastelul fever,
made made for then them 70 TO obtain p Water If they
could tell US the story OF their misery,
hearts. But the utter faacy OF attrlbuting canine
madness to the heat OF summer Is best shown in
the history OF the most torrid climes The disease
| is unknown In the Indies and In South America.
Constantlnople, that city OF dogs and the plague.
is stranger to IL. DIR. Hinnikln in his Notes on
/ MnfI npo5g uyrat had
condition abound there; that they are afflicted
with almost every disease; tormented by dies,
ever seen in that locality" Barron likewise in his
''Traves In south Africa remarked the entire
absence OF canine madness in that country, though
| the Kaf1irs had large numbers OF dogs.
GENUINE CASE OF HYDRoPHOBIA,
even in the dog. is a very rare occurrence. But
| when the disease does manifest itself, its Symp-
toms are marked and easily defined, and to one
who has given the subject the slightest attention
diagnosis The trouble is that 30 persons OF super
fetal observation an epileptic ft-very common
among dogs-may be mistaken Tor hydrophobia.
The dog when suffering from an attack OF epilepsy
which is sure guarantee that he is not mad
runs sa, about wd s cown e egsha MS
the mouth (which is another positive in
dcation that he, Is not mad for a. mad dog
never froths a, the mouth, and, as II entirely
deprived OF sight, runs against anything in his
way With the mad dog the case is entirely differ
ternatural strength, and never staggers or falls
except to die. He does not bite mankind but
thirty or forty miles, to vent his restless desire Tor
motion. When lourneying he does not walk or
run, but proceeds IN siouchlng m ma kind
glare or stare, but they are dull and retracted. His
appearance is very characteristic, anu If once seen
can never afterwards be mistaken. In this state
he Will travel the most dusty roads, his tongue
hanging dry from his open mouth. from
them BY: lie is very III: il cannot
never vary, nydrophobia IN the dog may readily be
detected. The poor sufferer invariably fees from
home and master when attacked, and II not no.
tced in his wanderingS Is perfectly harmless.
Stray dogs are universally supposed to be mad
simply because they nave lost their way, and all
bling sickness, utterly dsqualiying them for hos
tlities upon either mankind or dogknd, are ut
might with equal justice regard the periodic fits of
our legislative activity against them as reasons OF
IN confidential intercourse among each other. Up
to the present time my remarks have had general
reference to the disease OF raOes, as manifested IN
the canine race. shall now speak more particu-
larly OF the disease OF hydrOphOba as II Is said
very remote occasions, to be developed In human
beings And first, should observe that there are
many highly esteemed medical practitioners who
are beginning to question tue idenutv OF the dis
There are those who believe nydrophobia to be
spontaneous both IN man ana the ANIMAL and not
rance and superstition are all powerful and potent
with those VINO have neither the disposition nor
the ability to investigate for themselves, and even
the most enlightened are too apt to take for grant
ed that which they nave been educated TO believe,
without applying the test OF reason; Why people
should have such dread OF that which, in all hui
man probability, they never can know anything
about ls, to rejecting mind, SIMPLY incompre-
henslbie. There IS not one physician in thousand,
however large his practice, who has ever seen
case of hydrophobia, and yet one would think,
rife In the community as delirum tremens~auite
as terrible Ia Its characteristic prevention Of
which man always has In his power. On the other
hand there Is hardly physician. however limited
his practice, who has not been called upon to treat
cases OF mama poo" OF the most dreadful and
however wildly drawn or highly wrought, Illus
trating the sufrerIngs from rabies can convey in
the faintest manner the real agony OF man with
ing under the tortures OF delirium tremens Yet
we permit nay, invite this disease in our midst.
Pardon me ii | seemingly digress from my subject
when say that intoxicating liquors kill more peo-
pie In New York city alone III one month than
would die OF ny drophobia in the United States in
century. 1t is ertany very inconsistent TO express
SO much dread OF disease which Is simply very
remote possibility and still jostle on the street
more soul destroying. and which indirectly,
through the hands OF some OF It's victims, may
strike US to the earth. But there is kind OF
SENSATIONAL HYDRUPROBiA
which springs into notice generally when there is
dearth OF news and the morbid sentiment OF the
community requires something to feed upon. The
medical profession, noble as it is, is not altogether
tree from class OF men willing to resort.to any
means to advance their interest. 1t looks wen IN
the newspapers to see that DR.. So-and-So was
called to prescribe In case oil cholera,
phoba. The mania ler originating stores about
people who have died from the result of ancient
dog bites, dating back tour, five and even twenty
years, is exceedingly reprehensiDe. Such an &C.
currence is simply impossible, as there IS not
case on record where person has died of the dis
ease after the expiration OF three months from the
time OF receiving the bite. There are many dis
eases which have symptoms identical with those
Of hydrOphobia, and we have bur to add to such
symptoms the apprehensions OF the patient nd the
opinion Of an unskiltul ply stefan to develop case
which will readily pass for hydr0phoba. Tell a
man graveiy that he mas swallowed a deadly poi
son and he will be very likely to feel and exhibit
all the effects OF it, Let whole community assure
man who has been bitten by dog that he must
sooner or later manifest symptoms Of hydro
phobia, and the pressure on MIN 70 do SO is very
strong In some Jemperaments 1t Is irresistible.
There seems TO be q general bellef that there Is
NO CURE FOR HyDROPHOBIA.
This Is another manifestation OF ignorance
which arises from a lack OF knowledge oil the DIS
ease. In order to allay any tears in this respect
will mention two or three OF the best authentl-
Gated remedies. In Detroit q case was brought to
the hospital for treatment, and after consultation
irin he Of L or