Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-16
From the New York World.

| BIAs
From the New York World =
Mr.. e. 8. Carmen, of River Edge, n. J., is not
only editor Of the Rural New Yorker but is
sportsman as we'll AS this gentleman is known
70 nave had large and varied experience with
oogs OF many kinds, he was interviewed at his
once In this city on the subject Of rabies
which Is just now SO exercising the people.
Enough the disease of rabies, incorrectly
| termed hydrophobia," said Mr.. Cannon, "is, in
reality, SO rare that 1t nevertheless has, or may
nave, an existence, and the fear of SO terrible a
malady excites an inf1nitude of apprehensious
| antagonstic alike to searching inquiry and to
the race which Is liable to its developments:
while many are now greatly exercised about
this baneful malady, it may be well to call at
tention to several of the glaringly erroneous
notions that have always existed in connection
with it.
First, is It true that, without any abnormal
symptoms, dog may be attacked at any mo-
Whatever comes within his reach? The truth is,
however, that the disease, like many others,
mas 't 81. Its progress and
eliminating stages. Authentic cases are not
wanting in which hydrophobous dogs have
tempting to bite the hand that cared for them
whenever the disease has been watched, a
manifest sickness OF never less than two and
generally from four to six weeks has interviewed
before marked symptoms are revealed. Droo-
Ing at the mouth, strangely perverted appe-
lite, the tracing of imaginary objects, and a
never-ceasing restlessness are among the mid
die symptoms that rarely deceive. 1t is COM
monty thought that rabid dogs shrink with
horror from contact with or even sight of water.
This Is wholly erroneous, since from actual ex-
pertinent in eleven cases out of twelve their
thirst seemed positively unquenchable. Again 1t
Is believed by many that the rabid dog, if uhre-
strained, will pursue nearly straight course,
swapping at every object within his reach until
death ensues. 1t is the truth, however, that, ex-
cept during the paroxyms OF deirium, which
seldom continue ten minutes at once, he seeks
in his agony the most obscure places. In my
own experience with hunting dogs have wit
messed the disease in every stage and except
during the periods Of delirium, the dog never
eVinced the least inclination to bite but recog-
niZe6 his master usual,
FITS, with which young dogs chose reared in
frequently mistaken for rabies, and this has
created not only belief in the prevalence OF
rabies, not at all supported by facts, but has
JUDGE against all dogs which at present exists.
80 marked, however. are the differences in the
able they should ever be confounded by the
mest timid and uninquiring.
"Epileptic fits seize a dog without giving min
element. The dog runs about wildly, staggers,
falls down, froths at the mouth from constant
show only the scerotica or if open. ' are dull
and vacant. He regains his feet, toddles about
mechanically and, as if entirely deprived of
sight, runs first into thing, then into
another. In rabies, dog never runs about
without an object. Possessed of unnatural
strength, he never staggers, never falls, except
1t be to die. He droOls at the mouth but never
froths. His eyes are strangely bright and pierre
ing, and are never wholly or partially closed.
The disease gives, as has been stated, long
warning aud Is more frequent in winter tall or
spring than in summer. AS therefore. fits never
occur in any stage of rabies, their existence IS
a positive guarantee that the dog Is perfectly
harmless. Thus 1t will appear, If these facts were
generally known, the one disease would he yer
be IN mistaken for the other and the lives Ofmany
valuable dogs now sacrificed to cruelty, ignO-
rance and superstition might be spared. It Is
unquestionaly well that policemen should be
instructed at all times to eXterminate the use
less mongrels that drag out a forlOrn existence in
the street cutters and dirt-heaps. Deprived of
food and drink for heightened periods, alive
with vermin, sickened with dstemper and suf-
fering from every form and variety of disease
that dogs are heir to, their destruction is an act
OF humanity. without any reference to hydro
phObia whatever.
"Unless inoculated with infectious matter
from the bites of rabid dogs, rabies according to
statistics, standard authors and the ex experience
ofail intelligent dog ianciers, never attacks those
dogs which have mOiety OF attention paid to
their food, drink and general care. 1t might
almost be said that the virus of h. drophObia is
the inspissation of filth, neglect, decay suffer
1ng-the resultant scunly is1 .tg say, that is
finally incubated from this combination of evils
to which the ownerleSs cur is subjected more
than any other domestic animal.
"Ihe muzziing OF dogs is wholly Intellectual to
accomplish the ends sought, since only those
are muZzied which generate the disease"