Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-08-02
SUPPRESSION OF RABIES.
Existence OF the MAlady Depends Solely
Upon Its Contagious Principle.

Existence OF the MAlady Depends Solely
Upon Its Contagious Principle.
That rabies can be suppressed does
not admit Of doubt. It's existence de-
ponds solely upon its contagious prin-
ciple, and 1t can not arise spontaneously
under any conditions, any more than
dogs themselves can. Eighteen years
ago, through being unable to trace the
origin OF case Of rabies which occurred
under my personal observation at Roch-
ester, Kent, was OF opinion that 1t
might have q spontaneous origin, and
this opinion, ! may state, was held at
that time by several OF the leading vet
erinarians on the Continent (Bouley in
France and Roll in Austria But soon
afterward, on more careful considera-
ton OF its geographical extent, and the
result OF sanitary police measures in
different countries, arrived ut the con-
clusion that its maintenance was due to
its contagion only, and that II this
were destroyed there could be no more
rabies or hvdrophobia. This conclusion
/ have made known on every possible
occasion.
1t may also be asserted that though
many kinds Of creatures can become in
fected, and may infect each other, yet
the dog is the original injector and tho
chief dissemination, the dissemination
being effected by incubation, in nearly
all cases by means Of bite. After in
oculation, IL 1t is to be effective, varia-
BILE period elapses before the signs of
disease manifest themselves; this is the
period OF latency or incubation, and 1t
may extend from few weeks to many
months, but in the great majority Of
cases it does not 60 beyond six months,
though there are some recorded in
which it has been longer. Twelve
months should cover all cases, and,
therefore, If dogs could be prevented
from biting for that period in this coun-
try, and no dogs were allowed to enter
1t from other infected countries, the
contagion must perish for lack Of re-
newal, and the scourge would be no
more seen or felt. What blessing to
mankind, dogs and other animals
this would be! Even the dog wor-
shippers might contrive to understand
what benefit it would confer
upon their idol If they would only con-
slider the matter. There would then be
no need for all those futile, because par
tial and temporary, measures which
harass dog owners and cause discomfort
to dogs, while they have to be repeated
necessarily. Nor would man look with
grave and deserved suspicion, even
amounting to dread, upon q devoted
animal companion which he at present
allows to be exposed to the risks Of in
lection that will perchance destroy them
both. Surely a few months Of inconven-
fence are as nothing when compared
with the advantages that would be OBJ
tanned. Think Of the children and
adults who would be spared a torturing
death in future years! Consider the per.
petual abolition Of the diabolical muz-
zle, We cynophilists, and know that in
the days to come dogs might bit" and
rend to their hearts content without
being suspected or accused Of madness,
or any doubt be entertained as to the
innocuousness Of their saliva.-George
Fleming, in Nineteenth Century.