Connecticut western news., 1874-07-10
SALISBURY. CONN. Friday Morning. July 10, 1874.
HydrOphObia.

Latterly this deadly rabies seems to be on the increase, owing no doubt to the in creased number of dogs, and perhaps in some measure to the increased facilities of record. The dog rabies has shown itself everywhere within the temperate zones, with the exception of Van Dieman's Land and the Azores. It is scarcely eyer found in Greenland, the Siberian regions, or Rams chatka, and is more prevalent in the tenn perate than in the torrid zones of the globe. In the British Isles, England has the lions share of the malady, Ireland producing few mad dogs and Scotland few est of all. In 1866, when sixty.six deaths from hydro . phobia occurred in England. none appeared to have taken place in Scotland As re- most prevalent opinions differ somewhat, and it seems to be generally admitted that the 'dog-days' are not the special cause of it as they were once supposed. The rabies breaks out in all seasons of the year and Dr. Roll of the Veterinary Institute of Vii enna asserts that it is more prevalent in mild than in hot summers It is argued, with a strong show of reason, that irregular seasons with rain Gas at present on our sea board) are the most productive of this dan gerous malady. As regards the natural cause of it there is much uncertainty. M Boucher, the Frenchman, arguing from the malady as it shows itself in Algeria, thinks it is spontaneous, like, other diseases, and not necessarily the result of bites; and perhaps this opinion is true one, for it is hard to believe that rabies, to be propagated in country, must always be actually alive in some one or more animals. All dogs have the germ of it probably, and this could be developed in various ways.
 The first general symptom of that disease is the dullness of the animal, accompanied by certain restlessness and desire to roll itself up in dark and out-of-the-way corners. It is usually thirsty and laps water freely in the early stages of the malady, showing none of the hydrophobia felt by human be- ings in that deadly trouble. The sound of 8 dogs voice in madness is remarkably changed into hoarse, growing, elongated effort in the throat, somewhat like the crow of cock, but deeper. French wri- ters mention this dreadful goic de coo and accept it as eign of what is coming. M. BouleY tells story of two veterinary stu dents who heard dog bark one night in house of Charenton as they were goin 2 home, and knocked up the incredulous and angry proprietor to tell him his mild and af- fectionate house dog was growing rabid They compelled him to listen to reason and tie up the animal, and in this way prevent eda catastrophe, for the dog was really mad. The mad dog seems insenslble te pain and is silent, even when beaten or when he bites the red hot end of boxer. The symptoms of rabies in human being are as well known as those of the dog, when they show themselves suddenly after an sin- cubation' of six weeks or two months, or even six or eight months from the time of inc biting. In general the closed wound begins to be painful and discharge matter, and there aie achings, tinglings, chills and other strange sensations in the limbs. In day or two there is tightness of the throat, a difficulty of swallowing and the strange and terrible shrinking from the sight of wa ter which gave the disease one of itsnames. But there is no need to detail the deadly progress. The descriptions repeatedly glv- en of the last movements of men in that condition have certain sameness in them, which has made us all familiar with the acts and sgonies of the sufferers. Yet these recitals will always have their dread ful fascination for listeners or readers, and certainly the drama meyer showed anything more tragic and deplorable than the closing scenes of those who die of this hor- rible maladY.
 Some are disposed to think hydrophobia is of the nature of hysteria and tetanus.- But the resemblance seems to be faint one. With tetanus patient does not shrink from liquids, and the jaws are rigid, while they can be moved in hydrophobia Tetanus affects the spinal nerves, while hy- drophobia affects the blood and disorders the brain. As for hysteria, it is thing that can be excited by the imagination. Dr.. Troussea, Frenchman, tells how M. Joup- itre, Mayor of Sologne, told him dog in rabies had grappled him by the arm and how, month or two subsequently,, at a plentiful Easter Sunday dinner, the Mayor, who had eaten heartily, exclaimed he felt hydrophobia-that dreadful dog had done for him! In the midst of the confusion, his wife drew him hastily aside and bid him tickle his palate with his fore-fnger, which he did. The effect was indescriba. ble, but decidedly good. The rabies was got rid of and the mans life saved. Sev- eral cases of the kind have been narrated, showing how terrible fancy can disorder the brain and the nervous system. But they are quite distinct from the fatal real
 itles of hydrophobia.
 Meantime something should be done tc diminish the chances of canine madness Many opinions have been expressed on tho subject, and the simplest IS one whict would be proposed by MT. Dickens in Da
 Vid Copperdeld all the dogs, or al many as possible. It is the plan in genera
 use at present, and it has a good deal O
 common sense to recommend it. The dog
 of our cities and towns are too many il
 number, and furthermore, and eddy enough, they fare kept by those who cal
 worst afford to keep them, the result O.
 which is that they live in half-starved ant generally exasperated condition. If thos
 useless dogs cannot be killed, they shoul'
 be taxed. In England and Scotland, ,wher
 license is paid for over million of canines
 another half million prowl about uni