Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-05-28
The Bite of Mad-Dogs.

PROFESSOR WAUGH EXPOSES SOME OF
THE FALLACIEs ABOUT HYDROHHOBIA.
In his lecture on ''Hydrophobia" at the
Medico-Chirurgical College, some days
ago, Prof. W. F. Waugh exposed several
fallacies in regard to that terrible disease.
He did not agree with those who believed
the disease arises spontaneously, as the
traced. In one epidemic in Russia the
disease prevailed on both side of the Elbe
over which there was bridge, but no
cases occurred on the islands in the river.
This he accounted for by the fact that
dogs were able to cross the bridge from
side to side, but could not reach the
islands.
"a periodically recurring error" said
he, sis that rabies are caused among ami
mails by the change in the condition OF
life due to domestication. This is mega
lived because wild animals are subject to
it, It has been claimed that Infection
took place from bites of insects. Fleas;
from instance, upon mad dog might bite
another dog and infect him. While this
was probable, he said. it has never been
proven. There we're some who doubted
the existence of hydrophobia, but these
were not among those who had ever studi'
ed the subject. Rabies occurred less fire.
quently within the tropics and polar re-
gions than in the temperate zones, and
was little more frequent in the warm
months than during the rest of the year.
That, however, was because dogs travel
led more in warm weather than in cold.
Climate had nothing to do with the dis
ease. He then described the symptoms of
the disease in dog"
HE takes but little food" said he,
sand often drops it from his mouth. He
is fond of eating dirt. When called be
obeys slowly. There is discharge from
the nose, and after few days he becomes
violent and bites at anything that comes
near him. Dogs have been known to bite
off their tails or feet. There is no special
dread Of water except in a few cases. They
finally die of weakness, the hind legs be-
coming paralyzed. Fifteen or twenty per
cent. have the sullen symptoms, which
are similar to the other, with the maniacal
stage left out" Referring to the number
Of persons bitten who contract hydropho-
bia. he said that where the dog was GER
tainly mad Al per cent. of the cases result
ed in the disease, but there were only
per cent. of the cases where the dogs were
merely suspected of being mad. He be-
lieved that the best thing that could be
done would be to reduce the number of
dogs and that all stray dogs should be
killed at once, as mad dog nearly always
stray away from home.
Wounds should be cauterized at once.
4zszsa Sne lining that could be procured
quickest was the best. A red-hot poker
was efficient. although carbolic acid was
to be preferred. The poison remained a
long time at the seat of the entrance
Pasteur, he said, had probably conferred a
great boon upon mankind by his discov.
cry, which seemed to be a natural method.
Incubation of rabies required fifteen days,
and as Pasteur had obtained virus the
incubation of which took only seven days
it seemed reasonable that he could cure a
patient who had been bitten within eight
days. If the patient was not treateo
within that time the chances were strong.
ly against him.-Phila(elp7eia NorU,
american.