Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-03
HYDROPHOBIA'S CURE
Louis Pasteur, the Famous French
Specialist, Describes the
SYMPTOMS OF THE DREAD DISEASE.
A Speculation Upon the Origin Of Rabies in
Animals.
TIE EFFECTS OF EARLY REGULATION
rwRrrrENroR THE D1spArcH.1

| WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH.1
Rabies is disease which has been known
from the earliest times. The dog may give
it to the man and to domestic animals.
Animals, again, may communicate 1t to each
other. At the time Of writing this paper
rabies is raging in England in herd oi
deer in the park OF the Marquis of Bristol at
IckWorth. The herd was composed Of 900
animals, and 200 of them have died already,
though the disease still RACES. A rabid dog
found the way into the park during the
month of April last, bit several animals,
which died of rabies, but only after they
had bitten large number of their fellows.
A short time ago our knowledge of this
disease was still surrounded by many popu-
lar fallacies. Old writings, recent papers
even, state that rabies may originate spon-
taneously, and the occasional causes pro-
ducing the disease are likewise described.
In the streets of certain towns one may see
along the walls, in the summer time, small
tin vessels filed with water in order that
dogs may satisfy their thirst Many think
that unless such precautions are taken
some animals may become rabid. Never
theless it is a fact that in whatever
| physiological or pathological condition dog
or any other animal Is placed, rabies never
makes its appearance in that animal unless
it has been bitten or licked by another suf-
fering from rabies at the time the wound
was inflicted. Every person who is of
opinion that rabies may originate spontan-
eously-an opinion 1 am even now fighting
against-will at once answer: "But there
must have been, at some time or other, one
first animal spontaneously afflicted with
rabies" That answer simply opens up the
whole question of the origin of things,
question which is altogether outside the do
main of scientific Investigations. Whence
came the first man? Whence came the first
oak tree? Nobody knows, and it is useless
to discuss such mysteries. Observation alone
shows as that rabies
NEVER ORIGINATES SPONTANEOUSLY.
Nobody has ever proved the existence of
spontaneous rabies. though many have at
tributed it to the symptoms of epilepsy, a
disease frequently met with in the canine
species. Further it never breaks out in any
country unless introduced there by an ami
NAL bitten in another place where rabies is
endemic. Many islands in the Pacific
Ocean are quite free from it. 1t is not met
with in the wide Australian continent, Nor
way or Lapland. And yet these countries
will be free of it only as long as they take
of dogs which, after being bitten in another
country, carry the virus with them in
latent form.
Moreover. it is not difficult to prove that
rabies is a disease which cannot appear de
novo under any physiological conditions,
and that in spontaneous origin is quite inn
possible. Weknow nowadays that conta-
gious or virulent affections are caused by
small microscopic beings which are called
microbes. The anthrax of cattle, the malig-
nant pustule OF man, are produced by mi
crobes; Group is produced by a microbe.
The microbe of rabies has not been
isolated as yet, but, judging by analogy, we
must believe in its existence. To resume:
every virus is microbe.
Although these beings are of infinite
smallness, the conditions of their life and
propagation are subject to the same general
laws which regulate the birth and multipli-
cation of the higher animal and vegetable
beings. They, like the latter, never have a
spontaneous origin. Like the latter, they
are derived from beings similar to them
shadow of doubt, that in the present state
of science the belief in spontaneous genera
ton is a chimera. If it be said that life |
must have appeared on this earth spon-
taneously at some period or other, must !
repeat the statement which made just now,
namely, that the origin of all things on |
earth is hidden behind an impenetrable |
veil. In short, rabies is not spontaneous
disease.
ERADIcATING THE DISEASE.
As it is always due to the direct inocula-
ton of its virus by rabid animal, it is easy
to understand that simple police measures
will suffice to stamp out this horrible dis
ease, more especially in insulsr countries
like England or Ireland Two or three
years would perhaps be enough to eradicate
it if owners were compelled to muzzle their
dogs or to lead them by q string when in
the streets. The destruction of all wolves
in the United Kingdom was a far more diff
cult task, and yet it was successfully accom-
plished.
Everybody, medical men especially, agree |
in thinking that rabies, in man at least, is
an incurable disease. If a man be bitten by |
a rabid animal in such manner that he |
must necessarily die of rabies, his health |
may nevertheless remain perfectly good for |
several weeks, though the treacherous virus
creeps on in his body, carried by the blood |
or finding its way along the nerves. Lastly, |
it invades the nervous centers. It is always |
found there first, and from thence it passes |
into the sslivary glands. The first symp- |
toms now make their appearance: fear of |
spasms of the throat, dilated pupils, hag-
gard eyes, severe pain or mere itching at
the seat of the bite. In rare cases the
patient tries to bit; ; if so he bites the
bedclothes, but only seldom the people near
him. He expectorates frequently, while
convulsive movements follow the slightest
breath or draught of air. He is afraid of
shining objects, and the slightest noise
causes him to start. These are
some Of the striking signs of the disease. If
one or several of these morbid symptoms
make their appearance rabies has fairly be-
gun, and, whatever may be done, it follows
its own Independent and fatal course.
Death, sometimes preceded by horrible suf-
ferings and by indescribable maniacal at
tacks of fury, shortly follows.
Strange to say, this disease, on which all
the resources of medicine have no effect, has
been treated in all countries by an endless
number of remedies, all supposed to be in
fallible. There is no country in Europe or
America, be it small or large, in which per-
sons are not to be found who are supposed
to be able to cure rabies, or in which prac-
tices which are said to prevent the occur
renee of the disease may not be studied.
Such erroneous beliefs are widely. spread.
FOOLISH IDEAS.
The idea on which such practices are
based is due to the fact that it is difficult
for men in general to apply to their knowl-
edge of facts, which are more or less mysteri-
Gus in their nature, and the causation OF
which is unexplained. the precepts derived
from experimental methods. The human
mind is always struck by anything which
appears to be marvellous A man, for In
stance, will often believe the quack who
tells him that a stone of certain kind cor
plant will prevent the evil effects of bite
from rsbid animal, provided this stone or
plant be merely placed in contact with the
wound. He may say even that he has per-
liz &c