Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-07-08
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Hydrophobia in Domestic Animals.

h3 LII DSlUeSa2C AulfnaiSs
The veterinary editor of the Prairie
Farmer gives the following description
of the symptoms of hydrophobia in
the animals and poultry of the farm
yard:
Of the origin, seat, and pathology of
this fearful disease, there have been
various opinions, some considering it
centered in the nervous system, and
some that the blood is poisoned by the
virus primarily, and the nervous sys-
ten secondarily affected. Perhaps few
diseases have excited more intense in
terest than this, or have been the sub
Iect of more writing and discussion.
For centuries certain medicines and
specifics have been Wanted as cures
for hydrophobia, and some even as pre-
ventives. The public, however, should
be put upon their guard against be-
Ieving In any such nonsense as spe-
cities, which only tend TO mislead, and
may be productive of the greatest mis-
chief, by inducing belief in prevent
i've or cure, and SO putting the owner of
the rabid animal off his guard.
In the horse the early symptoms con-
:sist in restlessness, dilation of the pu-
pills, spasmodic movement of the
angles Of the lip, depressed and anxious
countenance, a sort of inquiring gaze,
suddenly, however, lighted up, and be-
coming fierce and menacing from some
unknown cause, or at the approach of
a stranger; and in mares or stations
there is evidence of active sexual ex-
citement. AS the disease developes
itself, there are cramps, commissions of
the limbs and different parts of the
frame, and intolerance of light. From
the congested and irritated state or
condition of the genito-urinary organs,
there are more or less frequent at
tempts at stating, which in the adj
vanced stage Of the disease is often at
tended with severe straining. The eye
will occasionally wander after some i'm
aginary object. There is the paroxys-
NAL tendency to bite, but more gener-
ally attempts to run at and trample
down those who come in their way !;
difficulty Of swallowing, modified voice
when the animal attempts to neigh, and
partial paralysis of the hind extremi-
ties supervene. The dread of water,
which the name hydrophobia implies,
is not present; but in the advanced
stage of the disease, the horse may not
be able to swallow water. Later the
animal suffers from commissions, cannot
rise, and dies generally between the
third and sixth day. There is only one
disease in the horse with which rabies
can be confounded, namely, inflammation
OF the brain (phrentis), and in that the
absence of consciousness, and in
nlilder cases, of fear, SO that no mortal
control whatever can be exercised,
marks it's nature, and clearly dis
tinguishes it from rabies, the victim to
which is sconscious to the last, and
though savage and violent in the ex-
IRENE, is aware of the power of man,
and to some extent under his influence.
The symptoms of hydrophobia III the
morse usually show themselves in from
Two to eight weeks after the animal has
been bitten.
La cattle the symptoms somewhat re-
semble those exhibited by the horse.
The saliva of any rabid animal, of what
ever species 1t may be, will commune
cate the disease to any other animal
with whom it may come in contact
The general cause, however, of rabies
IN cattle is the bite of a dog a rabid
dog enters herd of cattle, and attacks
and bites several, especially if they re
sist and fight the dog in return. The
symptoms observed are not Immediate
nor does the wound inflicted by thu
rabid animal take an unhealthy action