Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-06-11

four become affected; and It is likewise said
anat any human beings, when no precautions
are affected after being bitten. The celebrated
surgeon. John Hunter, knew OF twenty-one
people who were bitten Dy the same dog and
only one OF that number had the hydrophobia.
It should be added. however, that 1t is not
stated that this individual had not been bitten
by some other dog than the one which bit him
In common with the rest. Besides, many per.
sons have, undoubtedly died, after having been
bitten, With commissions, not OF hydrophobia,
but the result OF anxiety and fright One wei,
known physician, after having been bitten as
precautionary measure, blew out his brains.
WHAT TO DO WHEN BITTEN.
However, as these things cannot be demon
strated to the satisfaction OF the victim or his
disease, 1t Is always best, after bite oy q sus-
pected dog, to act ION the safe SIDE" There
fore, at once. remove the clothing, if any, from
the nltten part, and apply temporary ligature
OF The circulation OF the part, and TO that ex-
tent delays the absorption Of the poisonous
sanVa Dy the several blood-vesSelS OF the
WOUND: While other things are being hurriedly
prepared for, some one whose lips and mouth
are Tree from breaks might attempt suction of
the wound. The material extracted by the act
apparently Chiefly Of blood. should. OF course.
az once be elected from the mouth OF the per-
son giving the assistance, ana the mouth thor
oughly cleansed With water. The bite is really
q lacerated and confused wound, and lying 10
VIZ Ate1C A0uSAEtSS. duu uStHeSu Inc s, Is
this poisonous saliva II by any means these
projections and depreSstons affording the lodg
ment can De removed, the poison must go with
them. II done with knife, the wound would
ne converted, practically, into an incised
wound, and would require treatment as
such. II surgeon is about he would pro-
badly stand probe upright In the wound, and
with sharp knife, cut the entire jured Dor
ton out. Professional aid Is not always at CON.
mand and In such case it would be well TO
take poker or suitable piece OF iron, heat 1t
red hot, at least, In the fire, wipe off and de-
stroy the entire surface OF the wound. AS fast
as destroy ed the tissue becomes white. An iron
at ci,ife heat gives less pain than one "Dlack
not as smiths say; for In the latter instance
the heat Is scarcely sufficient to destroy, bat
only irrtates, while In the former the great neat
at once destroys the vitality, kills OF the part
with which 1t comes In contact. With prop
erly heated iron not only the surface is de.
stroyed, out the destructive influence extends
beyond and into the healthy tissue far enough,
If no point Is neglected. to assure the purposes
for which it is used. Some are inclined to think
that If the wound ia at once we'll wiped out and
a stick Of solid nitrate silver Qunar caustic)
rapidly applied to the entire surface OF the
wound nttie danger IL TO be apprehended.
When cauStlc has been used pouitices and
warm concentrations should be applied.
THERE IS A STRANGE BELIEF
among the ignorant that, whether the dog was
mad or not at the time of giving the bite, 1!
1t should become 50 at any fixture time. the
disease viii appear In whatever Individual the
amman mas bitten, and, acting under this mis-.
taken belief. the dog Is at once slain. This
should not be done, but the suspected animal be
placed In confinement and watched under
proper safeguards, for the appearance OF the
disease. Should no satisfactory appearances
indicate the disease in the dog, the unnecessary
mental distress would be saved to the person
bitten.
Another prevalent error exists in the belief
that the disease prevails among animals In the
not weather OF MID summer, while the truth is
that 1t Is more apt to occur in winter, or the
damp, cold days OF spring. D. Turner