Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-06-05
WHAT Is HYDROPHOBIA?

ton that this disease was confined to the
warm season of the year, known as "dog
days." and during this fateful period every
canine which could not show a collar or
exhibit a clear head or clean bill of health,
was Immediately shot down or remorseless-
ly impounded. Of late, however, the ra-
bies have been more frequent and general
and mad dogs are reported IN various sec
tions at every season Of the year. The
number of accounts of human beings bitten
by mad dogs is becoming painfully large,
and the narration of subsequent symptoms
and suffering is something horrible and re-
voting. This is matter in which little
investigation has been made, and we have
no doubt but that the subject is largely
misunderstood. Skillful physicians who are
familiar with every phase of human disease,
are baffied at the apparent persistence and
power of hydrophobia, which exhibits itself
at stated periods after a bite has been re-
ceived, and which usually terminates with
revolving symptoms and unutterable ago
MES. We are satisfied that many cases Of
alleged hydrophodia result from immagi-
nation, and the remedies employed should
be those of ministration to what DIR. Camp
bell, would term, diseased mind.
Our attention has been called to PAM
phlet by VIM. f. Sterling, combining with
a system of Dog Training Complete Med
ical Guide. It is the work of a man who
has evidently made dog training study
and science, and who has shown remarka-
BILE acquaintance with the characteristics
and susceptibilities of dogs, as we'll as with
their diseases and discomfitures.
Among the first points bearing upon the
distemper or maladies of dogs, Mr.. Sterling
remarks that any unusual excitement, sud
den exposure, &C., may bring on fits. He
recommends with dogs, as with human be-
ings in all such cases, the animal be kept
perfectly quiet in dark place when the tit
has seized it, after which sulphuric ether,
cold water and laudanum are to be admin
istered. "If," continues the author, 1.-THE
dog is seized with fit in the street, cover
him at once with box or barrel, have him
conveyed home, and do not suppose dog
in fit to be mad A rabid dog never froths
at the mouth or falls in fit"
Upon the subject of rabies or hydropho-
bia, Mr.. Sterling is clear and seemingly SEN
sible. We quote entire his remarks upon
this point:
The most deadly, unfortunately the most
rare of all the diseases to which the canine
race is subject, is hydrophobia. That this
most faithful and noble animal, our only
perfect and truly devoted friend, which is
the same in sickness or in health, in power
ty or in wealth, that without hope Of reward,
would sacrifice his life for us, yet may, when
seized with this terrible disaster, intiict on
us the most horrible Of deaths, is subject
of profound solictude. l have said the dis
ease is rare; in this country it is especially
so. And while it is true that person IN
whom the confirmed symptoms oftrue rabies
are developed may be said to be beyond the
power of medicine, the following facts may
somewhat lessen our apprehension: That
the periodical cry of "mad dog ~ is more
the result of ignorance and fright than real
ity. That the symptoms of rabies in dog
may be readily known long before the ami
NAL becomes dangerous or inclined to bite
That they never get mad "all at once"
Hydrophobia is impossible unless the dog is
actually rabid or 1aboring under the disease
That Of persons bitten by dogs known to be
rabid, more than two-thirds escape, even
without treatment. That the immediate
application of caustic to the wound caused
by the bite of a rabid animal is a positive
and absolute preventive of the disease.
That Mysteries and other spaSmOdic attec-
tions are often mistaken for hydrophobia
and the patient may die of fright-consti-
tuting the hydrophoba of the newspapers.
Two Instances are related here one of a Wo-
man bitten by dog known to be in good
health and who, two months atterWard, by
way of Joke, was told that the dog was
mad. She was soon seized with convul-
sions and died in forty-eight hours. A gen
tleman received a severe bite from a dog
and soon fancied the animal was mad. He
felt a horror at the sight of liquids and was
actually cOnvulsed in attempting to sWal-
low them. It was not until the dog, which
was in perfect health, was brought into his
room that his mind recovered tranquility,
water no longer troubled him and he quick
ly recovered. -,
The symptoms of rabies should be we'll
studied by every owner of dog, that all
unnecessary alarm may be avoided. AT
first, the animal labOring under the disease,
seeks solitude and obscurity, becoming dull,
gloomy and irritable; he will hide in un-
accustomed places, but finding no rest, is
continually on the move. A dog suffering
from disease will exhibit similar signs OF
uneasiness, but we see the animal is i'm
PEELED by pain, while in rabies the dog
seems drawn by insensble magnetism.
Sometimes he will gaze steadily at an inn
aginary object, ending by either swapping
at the supposed enemy, or topping over on
his head as if his limbs suddenly failed him.
His mouth becomes filled with gluey Sc
cretion that gums his jaws together. He
tries to extract it with his paw, working in
the most violent manner. These are intal-
lible signs. There is singular brightness
of the eyes at first, but they soon change
and become dull and wasted. The voice
also will become completely altered and
soon you will hear the "rabid groWl," which
will certainly end all doubts Of the disease.
The dog elevates his head, gives a short
and distinct bark, and changes at once to a
long and distinct howl in much higher
KEY. Any dog may bark or howl, but only
rabid one will join both together
AS soon as one is satisfied dog is rabid,
he should be at once destroyeded or at least
given into the hands of a veterinary sur
geon. If person has been bitten, the
wound must be at once well washed with
warm water and lunar Caustic applied in
the most thorough manner to the very IN
most recess of the wound. 1t should be
done as soon as possible after the injury is
received. If the wound is not deep red
hot iron may be used, but it must be done
with firm hand and the part well cauter-
lied, and by all means consult surgeon as
soon as possible.
A TENDER INCIDENT OF JACKSON.-Ihe
tender memory Of Stonewall Jackson left
behind him in the army and the stern
sense of duty he bequeathed his soldiers
will be illustrated by this little incident:
The army of Lee was on its march to Get
tysburg, and the commanding general had
given strict orders for it's discipline in Penn
sylvania. An officer riding to camp from
Chambersburg late at night, was halted by
the outposts. Having neither pass nor.
countersign, in his dilemma, he bethought
him of an old pass in his pocket book sign
en- by General Jackson, whose recent death
hung like clond over the army. He found
it and handed it with confidence to the SEN
tinel. The trusty fellow managed to read
- l. l;o.l>4 &c otnl, RI hn On