Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-06-13
Beware Of HydrOphobia.
A TRRRIBLE DISEASE AND now 1T rs REDUCED
HOW 1T MAY BE COMMUNICATED TO PERSON
THE LUXURY OF CANINE AFFECTION.
lFrom the New York Times. J

krroW Tue NEW lOIk lluts.J
The death few days since Of Prof Alyergnat
. teacher In Hartford of the French language
from what is believed to be the effects of hydro
phobis, recalls this malady with unusual force.
The disease is SO appalling that we may be par
doned an extended reference to a terrible sub
ject now that the dog days are on us. The dis
ease, so far from disappearing says a London
newspaper, seems to become year after year COM
moner than ever. Unlike most other zynotic
poisons which medicine has been enabled to mod
ify, its poison RACES virulenty it did when it
was first set up, and negligence and ignorance
combine to swell the ranks Of its victims. Often
durable in its primary stage, the disease is fire.
quenty permitted to become constitutional, and
the miserable victim, partly perhaps from indifer-
ence and partly through the carelessness OF his
medical adviser, is left to arrive at that stage
series Of excruciating paroxysms to a terrible
death. But if the disease cannot be cured, it
surely can be prevented.
1t Is popularity supposed that the malady can be
communicated only by the bite of dog cat
in an active state of rabies This is quite mis-
take--and . mistake which has been fruitful Of
mischief 1t is true that the bite of an animal not
suffering from rabies is unable to inocuate the hu
man subject, but it should be remembered that the
affection may be far latent and obscure that the
animal will, to all appearances, be as healthy as
ever. A singular illustration OF this, says the
London World, occurred some weeks since al
Birkenhead, England, and, as the Coroner was a
medical man, who took professional as well as 40
official interest in the case, the details may be
cepted as exceptionally accurate and Trustworthy.
"A woman was amusing herself in her garden by
throwing pieces Of stick for her lapdog to run
after; and. in his impotence, the dog-who had
evinced no sign whatever of rabies, though it
sfterward turned out that he had been bitten on
the ear by another dog some time before, slightly
abraded the skin of its mistress hand. -Four
months afterwsrd she died of hydrophobis."
There can be no doubt that the poison can be
communicated by the animals lick, and 1t would
be well for those who encourage this disgusting
habit in their pups, poodles and spitzes TO know
this, and to remember, also, that Que of the ear
lest symptoms of canine rabies is a fondness for
licking any object the dog NAV encounter. The
causes (which create dispose animal 10 by
drophobia are wrapped apparently in impenetra-
bic obscurity; whether the state which can inoc-
ulate is generated suddenly or whether il devel-
ops itseif gradually, Is alike unknown. As long
IS dogs have opportunity gwen them of biting, OF
even Of licking abraded surfaces, such pImpies
30 long will the danger-more or less renote-ol
hydropboba continue TO exist. RAILWAY massa
ores are the tax we have to pay for the luxury oil
speedy loconotion; hydrophobia is the tax leviet
by the even-handed principle Of compens alton fol
the luxury of canine affection" But dogs hav,
90 long been so closely associated by fidelity ant
affection that no fear of hydrophobia is likely Il
Danish them either from our hearts or our homes
Fortunately the poison which they can communi
cate. though incursble when once absorbed, may
With reasonable probability be prevented from
ontsminating the blood, and SO passing into the
constitutional complaint known as hydrophobia
II should never be forgotten that the slightest
abrasure caused by dogs tooth is in the highest
degree dangerous, unless the wound be at once
vigorously sucked, and then thoroughly cauLer.
ixed or even excised as soon as possible. Should
there be any suspicion that the animal which in
ficted the sbrasure was morbid, no fear Of mere
momentsIy pain should DC allowed to stand in the
way Of severe and complete cauterization. The
fact that the dog is in 90 cases out of 100 not
mad, and that there are chances of escaping the
constitutional disease, even though the animal be
mad, should never lull the patient into foolish and
mistaken security. The disease-where the pr
mary preventive measures have been neglected.
has been known to remain latent for upward Of
two wears, and then to burst into malignant actv.
ity. Where there is the slightest abrasure of the
akin, dog should never be allowed 10 lick il, fol
II cannot b asserted too emphatcally that 1t ].
often Impossible to determine whether dog /:
diseased Or lot end IL the animal is contaminated