National Republican., 1877-04-22
EvILS OF HYDRoPHoBTc POISON.

EVILS OF HfDROPH0BTC POISON.
OF all the diseases which ierrify nations
none has yet proven SO unconquerable as
hydrophobia. With this fatal rIvsger
science is helpless, and from 1, humanity
recoils in horror. It has been the general
impression that this desperate disease origi.
mated from hot weather. For this reason
the maximum season Of heat was generally
called DOG Days" This ia, however. 9
mistaken impression. Cases Of hydropho-
bia occur at all seasons OF the year. Every
day chronicles some terrible death as the
result Of this disease. There is no time
when humanity is safe from it. Animals
which were supposed to be absolutely free
from the rabies have inflicted bites upon
mankind which have resulted in the most
violent cases of hydrophobis. The cause
and cure Of the disease remain yet shrouded
in mystery. For three thousand years ii
has been observed to exist among not only
CANNES, but wolves. cats and many other
wild animals, and the solution of its origin
or cause aud its cure rcmsins for the future.
Some very interesting statistics have been
CLEANED respecting hydrophobi,, which do
not, however, throw any light on the sub
ject calculated to solve the mysterious
question OF the cause and cure of the dis
ease. One case is recorded where twenty
one persons were bitten by n mad dog and
only one died. Faber's statistics show tha,
one hundred and forty seven persons bitten
by rabid animals in Wurtemburg only
twenty-eight had had hydrophob;s. 10
France, in 1852, forty eight persons died of
bydrophobia in England, in 1851, twenty
five in 1852. fifteen in 1858. eleven. A
commission appointed in France in 1852
found that of one hundred and thirty six
cases of rabies in human subjects one hun
dred and five were from the bite of dogs,
twenty from the bite of wolves. eight from
the bite of cats, and five unknown. In
sixty mine. in which the date OF the bite
was known, fourteen were fatal the first
month after the bite, forty one cases from
the end Of the first month TO the end Of the
third, eight from the beginning Of the
fourth to the end Of the sixth month, and
six from the beginning Of the seventh
month to the end of the tenth. No cases
Of death occurred after one year. Thre
died the first day. eight the second, TWEEN
ty-eight the third. twenty-one the fourth,
four the fifth, and four the sixth day, and
the remaining ten from seven TO ten days
For years the medical fraternity have
been wrestling with this question, in
hopes of securing some specific, but thus
far they have signally failed. There are
hundreds Of different kinds OF treatment
which relieve the patient but are impo.
tent to save his life. Relief has oflen been
found In the therapeutic treatment of chic.
roform, mercury. belladonns and some.
times tracheotomy, which is opening by
skillful surgical operation the ,rachea. Blu,
the most effective way of counterscting tie
effect OF the poison is by csuterizing the
wound with solid stick of nitrate of silver.
As the virus absorbs quickly, q powerful
caustic should. in order TO be effective, be
applied Immediately after receiving the
wound. There is however, another
remedy, aud one thst is becoming very
popular. 1t is to kill of the dogs. This
is an inhuman way Of saving human life,
and yet 1t is well known that elf.defsnse
is the first law OF nature, and that in all
struggles for existence the fttesi should
survive