The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-18
HYDROPHOBIA.
Some Popular Errors Regarding the Disease,
and Some Practical suRRestions.


The advent of the dog days will soon at
tract popular attention to tho subject OF hydro
phoba So-called mad dogs will infest our
thoroughfares, and the policemans legs club,
and revolver will be devoted to n now class Of
victims. The annual Dog law will be duly pro-
mugated. and n small army OF officials will
pursue and ensnaro the canine Migrants Of the
town. and bear them trium phantly to the pound.
Under these circumstances. It may be judicous
to consider tho question Of hydrophobia from
reasonable standpoint. and to afford intorma-
ton OF positive character to the ignorant and
credulous as to what is really known about it,
and. more particularly, as to what measures
are most feasible to protect the community
against its dangers.
The recent bench shows in this city. in Phlla-
delphia. and in Boston have awakened new in
terest in the dog. No such magnificent speci-
mems OF that noble beast have ever before been
exhibited In this country. But this doce and
grateful companion OF man Is peculiarly sub
ject to a dreadful disease. which NAV be readily
communicated to all other animals. including
human beings. What renders hydrophobia SO
appalling IL the fact that. rs far as our present
knowledge OF therapeutics goes 1t is incurabe
at least no authentic instances OF recovery
from II have come to the knowledge Of the
writer during many years careful study OF tho
affection. 1t is unnecessary to dwell upon the
various nostrums which have been Wanted and
advertised from time immemorial as specifies
for hydrophobia. 1t Is merely necessary 10 say
that experience has positively proved every one
OF them to be utterly valueless after the disease
has once commenced. The object OF this ar
tice. however. is not to dwell upon nm acknowl-
edged fact but to endoavor to dsabuse the pub
lie mind Of certain traditional supersttitions
which prevail extensively In regard to hydro
pbobia In dogs. and to point out what common
sense should suggest as proper and effectual
means for protection.
Tho term rabies is employed by scientific
writer's on this subject to designate tho canine
disorder the word "hydrophobia" tmeaninR fear
OF waterl being discarded because tho rabid
dog has really no dread OF water. but seeks 1t
with avidity in order to duench his burning
thirst and will even cross a stream II II ob-
structs his way. But In the human disease the
very idea OF drinking causes such painful con-
vusions OF tho throat muscles. and consequent
aversion TO fluids that tho term has been APP
propriately retained Still. hydrophoba is the
commonly accepted name for tho affection In all
animals and therefore 1t answers every prac-
teal purpose.
Among the questions that present themselves
In regard TO canine hydrophobia a very inter-
esting one Is. Can 1t arise spontaneously? The
reply to this must be unequvocally No. or the
various conditions asserted rs favorng its de-
vclopment in the canine race. few have even a
probable foundation. 1t has been attributed to
extremes OF atmospheric temperature. excite
ment OF anger. want OF water. Still another pre-
sumed influence is the presence under tho
dogs tongue OF a worm-like appendage whose
existence is believed to encourage the produc-
- Oh M ffnu In,
puppyhood is considered an infallible pre-
ventive OF the disease. This Ia an ancient no.
ton cherished In more modern times by the
Germans In the term "toll-wurm." or " worm OF
madness" So popular was the superstition at
one time that in the middle OF the last century
there existed In Prussia and in Hanover an ordi-
nance requiring all owners OF dogs to submit
thr" 10 this mutilation-a law rendered more
specific by aroyal decree OF Feb. 20. 1776. estab-
fishing an authorized corps OF operators whose
duty consisted in visiting semi-annually all
houses containing dogs removing the so-called
worm from every animal. and furnishing the
master thereof with certificate to that effect.
The edct prescribed likewise that each dog
should be- so treated before 1t had become six
months old under penalty OF fifty crowns fine
or Imprisonment for one month.
This whole theory was. however. demolished
In vogue. by the communication OF hydrophobia
to both men and cattle from dogs whose toll
wurms had been extirpa,ed in the most ap-
proved manner. These facts were corroborated
by the Investigations OF several sanitary COM
missions in the province OF Detmold. and the
corps OF operators was abolished. The same
tradition and practice still continue in Thrace,
Turkey. Moldo-W allachin. Roumania. Greece.
and Spain and 20 some extent in some portions
OF our own country. especially in the Southern
States. Tho writer. few years since. in con-
versing on the subject OF hydrophoba with an
Intelligent medical man from the South. who
before the late war. had boon In tho habit
OF keeping a pack OF hounds. was astonishcd 70
hear him assert that he had always wormed
his puppies In order to prevent their developing
rabies.
The other presumed causes Of spontaneous
hydrophobia are equally equiyocal. dissatisfied
saacity. putrd food. hunger. thirst. anger. and
extremes OF temperature are manifestly cir
cumstances which obtain among dogs quite
generally throughout the world. In many re-
gions. from the arctic zone to the equator.
Astounding in these animals. and particularly
on islands. hydrophobia has always been either
totally unknown or very rare. while In others
exempt from 1t for ages. It has only recently APP
peared. and in most instances can be traced
positively 10 importation. The writer has been
informed by friend who. previous TO the
Mexican war, resided ut San Antonio. Texas
for twelve years. that he never heard Of an in
stance OF hydrophobia in that region. although
It contained large numbers Of hunting dogs
He himself kept q pack Of hounds. 1t was
however. related to him that. in 1896 ranchero
near Monterey. Mexico. while sleeping at night
in front OF his house. was bitten in the finger
by n coyote tprairie wolf, which snapped at
him. and Immediately made Off. The wounded
man lost no time in chopping off his finger, as
1t is believed by the natives that wolves acting
in such manner are rabid.
Mr.. Meynel the most eminent English sports
man Of the last century preserved his kennel
ofhounds from hydrophoba during many years
by forcing every new dog to undergo rigid
quarantine OF four or Ave months. preparatory
to its admission into the pack A similar sys-
tenn. could 1t BIO universally adopted. would
doubtless ultimately result in the suppression
OF rabies but at present it is practicable only to
limited extent.
In regard to season. 1t is perfectly demon
strated that whatever influence the weather may