Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-07-15
Useful Hints About Mad Dogs.

Persons are liable to be bitten by
mad dogs under two sets of circum
stances-frst, when a rabid animal es
capes from home and is at large; and
secondly, when dog not supposed to
be infected is caressed by his master OF
those who have to do with him a. home.
Consequently, it is quite as important
that the public should be aware of those
slight indications which afford ground
for suspicion that the disease is impend-
ing as that they should know the char.
acteristic signs by which it may be re.
cognized when it has declared itself.
Tie premonitory indications of ra-
bies in a dog are derived almost en-
in his demeanor; consequently, although
they NAY be too trif1ing to be noticed
by a casual observer, they are fortu-
nately sufficiently striking to arrest the
attention of any one who is about dog,
and is familiar with its habits and in.
dividual peculiarities.
A dog about to become rabid loses
its natural hveliness. 1t mopes about
as if preoccupied or apprehensive, and
seeks to withdraw into dark corners.
From the first there is usually fore
shadowing of that most constant symp-
tom of the disease-depraved appetite.
rubbish of every kind with avidity, but
their own excrement-often immedi-
ately after it has been passed. Indica-
tions of this tendency appear early, and
are more than suspicious.
Along with this popularity of beha-
vior it is of equal importance to notice
that an infected dog, from the first,
snaps at other dogs without provoca-
tion. This snapishness in most dogs
is very striking. If dog previously
known to have no such habit snaps in
Discriminatory at the first dog it meets
in the yard or in the street, it is prob
ably not safe.
So far have had in mind chiefly
what is to be observed in dogs tie d up
or at home. A dog which is at large is
also to be recognized as in dangerous
state bv its demeanor. A healthy dog
in its progress along street or else
where shows at every step that its at
tion is awake to the sights and sounds
which it encounters. The rabid dog,
on the contrary, goes sullenly and un-
observantly forward, and is not divert
ed by objects obviously likely to at
tract it.
This statement, however, is subject
to the important exception already re-
ferred to, that it is excited both by the
sight and sound of an animal of its own
species.
OF the symptoms which accompany
the final stage of the disease the most
important and characteristic are those
which relate to the organs in which it
localizes itself-the mouth and throat.
Attention is often drawn to the condi-
tion of the mouth III an animal supposed
to be healthy by the observation that
it tries to scratch the corner of its
mouth, as if attempting to get rid of
the ropy mucus which is seen to be dis.
charged from it. In dogs that are tied
up it is noticeable that the bark has
entirely lost its ring, and acquired a
peculiar hoarseness, which can be re-
cognized even by the most unobserv-
ant. As the disease progresses the dis
charge increases, tine lower jaw hangs
as if paralyzed, and the animal has
evidently difficulty in swallowing
Along with this there is often loss of
power of the hind limbs. II now the
dog is watched, the peculiarities of be-
havior which have been already no.
ticed are seen to press themselves in
much more marked degree than before.
1t is observed, first, that it is subject
to paroxysms Of excitement, in which it
makes often-repeated efforts to bite or
gnaw all objects (such as woodwork,
straw, etc. within its reach, while at
the same time it continues to exhibit
the tendency already mentioned to de-
YOUR its own e1crement: and, secondly,
even during the remissions its excite
ment is at once renewed by the sight of
or sound of another dog.
1t may be well to note that the dis
ease occurs at all seasons, that the mad
dog continues to recognize its master
and to manifest pleasure when kindly
spoken to, that it does not shun water,
and that in many cases from first to last
that wild furry which is commonly
supposed to belong to the disease is
ahaank