St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-03-02
Hydrophobia.

Just now, there seems to be an un-
usual indication of this disease, and,
naturally, the owners of dogs, aud
Others, will be fnquiring for the symp
toms, that they may guard against the
danger.
1t is fair to say, however, that many
of those who have given the subject
careful attention, believe that there are
comparatively few cases of hydrophO
bia, and that very often other nervous
diseases are mistaken for it. And they
contend, too, that the Imagination has
often much to do in bringing upon per-
sons symptoms which resemble those
of hydrophobia.
But, without attempting to argue this
point, we copy below the description of
the indications of hydrophobia in
S., an excellent authority:
sit is no pleasure to a dog to go mad.
Dreadful as hydrophobia is to the hu
man being, rabies is worse to the dog.
1t makes its approach more gradually
it lasts longer, and is more intense while
it endures. The dog that is going mad
feels unwell for a long time prior to the
full development of the disease. He is
very i'll, but does not know what ails
him. He feels dissatisfied with every
thing, vexed without reason, and great
ly against his better nature, snappish.
Feeling thus, he longs to avoid all
annoyance by being alone. The sensa-
tion induces him to seek solitude.
The light infiicts upon him intense
agony. . This induces him to find
out the holes and corners where he is
least likely to be noticed. -. If his
retreat be discovered, and the masters
voice bids him come forth, =. he
leaves his hiding place, anxious to obey
the loved authority; but, before he has
gone half the distance, a kind of sensa-
tion comes over him which produces an
instantaneous change in his whole ap-
peal ance. -. He suddenly darts back
into his dark corner. If let alone, there
he will remain drinking q gredi
deal of aodter, but not seeking food
! His appetites are altered. Hair, straw,
dirt, filth, rags, stOnes,-the most moi
some substances the poor dog longs tC
swallow, in hopes to ease "A burning
stomach.
: ''He is now altogether changed. Still
he does not desire to bite mankind he
rather endeavOrs to avoid society. He
takes long journeys -. to vent hi'
| restless desire for motion. He does moi
walk, he does not run. He proceeds il
} kind of trot. His eyes do not glare
or stare, but are dull and retracted. q.
His tongue hangs dry from his oper
, mouth, from ,ohick there drops no foam
:. He can not stay to bite. If, never
f theless, anything opposes his progress
he will, as if by impulse, snap-as ;
man in similar state, might strike
, and tell the person ito get out of th'
4 way -. If he return home from
/ these excursions, he seeks the darkness
t His thirst increases, but with it come
swelling of the throat. He wiH plung
t his head into aCGter, i. but not a drol
l can he swallow. The throat is enlarged
: so that nothing can pass.
i: Ellis state of suffering is pitiable. HI
flies at, and pulls to pieces, anything
| within his reach. He emits the mos
hideous cries. The noise he makes j
], incessant and peculiar. 1t begins as
4 bark is quickly changed to howl
y which is suddenly cut short in the mid
die; and so the poor wretch at las
a falls, fairly worn out by the terribl
!, disease"