The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-25
HvdrOphObia IN the Horse.

Massachusetts.
Hydrophobia IN the Horse.
EDS. JOURNAL ND FAHNFE-
Yesterday | lost ii fine mare in a
singular way. She died Of hpdro-
phobia-or more properly rabies
the result Of being bitten BY Il dog.
And Il the symptoms and progress
Of this disease. n developed i'll the
horse. have seldom been noticed by
the papers, | viii give them 10
You for the benefit OF your readers.
Up to yesterday | belonged 10
that class who doubted the proba-
bilitv Of this disease existing or
prevailing among dogs or am
mails Of any kind in our south
ern attitudes. | am convinced to
the contrary now for though this
may be an exceptional case, vet 1T
came under my own observation.
etc.
just eight weeks ago today a
dog lying in the road attacked my
horses aS the wagon was passing,
and bit this mare several times upon
the leg. Ny driver reported the
fact, and said that he thought the
dog mad. |, holding the views eX-
pressed, attached but little impor-
tancc to the fact. had the wounds
bathed and washed with carbolic
soap, and regularly attended to.
They soon healed, and to all APP
pnarances the mare was som rs well
as ever
About ten days or two weeks
since, she began to fall otf-to get
thin, and to change decidedly IN
her character. From a willing,
quick, sprightIy animal, she be
came lazy, SLOW and obstinate. |
thought it but the result Of steady
work, 50 | lightened her labors.
changed her food, etc, without any
visible effect. Three days before
she died, whilst h~arncssed and
working to a light buggy, she
suddenly fell oyer-got up Oh her
Launches, looked about her as If
astonished, then got up and went
on as usual. ! ordered her to be
ceased from work altogether. No
one noticed anything indicating
disease, and no one suspected the
horrid truth. Yesterday morning
| noticed her yiciously pursuing
the calves over the pasture-her
ears backed, and evidently IN a
passion. | ordered her caught. gave
her water. and she drank it thirs
t;Iv: fed her and she ate heartily.
| noticed her turn. grin and bite
savagely at her attendant. SulI |
had no thought or suspicion Of the
truth. | turned her loose she
presently began chasing the cattle
again. Again | had her caught
not even yet s~uspectlng the cause.
She now suddenly fell down, made
a spasmodic effort as if to roll over
got suddenly upon her launches,
stared about her, and got up again.
| imagined her to be affected with
spasms Of some sort. and TO relieve
her gave her a half an ounce Of
laudanum. and about teasToonfuI
of turpcntine. 1t had almost an
instantaneous atfect-quietcd her
and apparently removed the disease.
| turned her loose again, and she
walked off: to all appearance she
was "a well IL any horse | ever saw.
In a couple Of hours, however, the
Spasms returned with more yio-
Ience: she attacked the calves. again.
caught. bit and stamped Il until
she literally broke every bone IN It's
finally fell down got up on
her launches to DO the same thing
over again three or four time. when
she turned over and died with 1t
tie or no struggling.
| did not even dream Of the real
until it was forced upon me,
and the risk and danger | ran vas
great. Fortunately she bit no other
animal save the calf killed. and !
deem myself fortunate in my e.
cape.
/ thus conclude that the virus re-
in the blood Of a horse about
eight weeks, tina, IL symptoms are