Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-10-13
THE HypRopHoB1A SCARE.
The Results Obtained Here Have No
Scientific Value Whatever


Every one who has studied the subject
acknowledges that hydrophobia, if, indeed,
it exists at all in the human subject, is at
least very rare disease, says the Medical
Record Compare this fact with the al
most countless number of persons who are
bitten from year to year by dogs supposed
to be rabid. If statistics were collected on
this point the results would prove that
there is no more apparent relation Of
cause and effect between the bite of dog
and hydrophobia than between an acci,
dental sneeze and stroke of lightning.
And yet wha. do we read in the newspapers
in connection with the present hydropho.
bia scare? Judging from these accounts il
would be fair to assume that the commu.
nifty was as much exposed to hydrophobia
as to typhoid fever, pneumonia or any
other of the ordinary common diseases
Scarcely day passes that some new cases
Of dog-bitten patients do moi present them.
selves IN the terrible plight of fear of a
horrible death. 1t does not make any
difference, apparently, whether or not it is
known that the dog was mad the patient
gets the benefit of the doubt, and the so.
called preventive does its perfect work
And the cry is still they come.
Scientifically speaking, it is still to be
proved that this incubation OF hydro
phobia virus has ever prevented an attack
of hydrophobia or modified its course
And where are the cases of hydrophobia
said to be dying or dead throughout the
country? What has become of those
which have been abandoned to their fate
as beyond the reach of the preventive
treatment? Surely such are interesting
enough to warrant detailed records in
scientific journals. And yet we never hear
of them except in sensational reports con-
nected with the booming of the inocula-
ton theory, and the popularization of spe-
cial hospitals in which the alleged Won
derful treatment is practiced. We say
this in no captious spirit Of criticism, but
in the true interests of hundreds who may
become unnecessarily alarmed and may be
in despair of timely assistance. All things
being equal, they can, from the present
outlook, afford to take the chances OF
treatment by the family physician. We
can certainly hold him responsible for any
marked increase in the mortality statistics
from this dreadful disease IN case he tails
in the performance Of his duty. Then,
dSdAii, IL any Ol the tnouSdnus oi pnyo 81
clans may meet with single case in life
time of practice we may obtain some i'm
partial records Of the etiology, symptoms,
diagnosis, pathology and treatment, and
thereby obtain much-needed natural his
tory OF hydrophobia. Science always
fayors inquiry and honors the conscien-
tious investigator All praise then, to the
man who has done the most work in that
direction. His theory is an admirable
one, but it is still much too far above
ground. The house is on stills instead OF
solid rock. Until the foundation is more
surely laid the country is reasonably safe.
The man, woman or child who may be
bitten by dog, horse, COW or hen may still
Hve-at least he or she has a much better
chance for so doing than the offending ami
mails, even without further incubation.