The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1890-09-27
THE HYoRopHoelA SCARE.
Results Hitherto Obtained Have No So
anfiac Yalna XYhnfaxar.

Results Hitherto Obtained Have No Sol
entihc Value Whatever.
Every one who has studied the subject
acknowledges that bydrophobia, II, In
deed, IL exists at all in the human sub
jec., is at least very rare disease.
Compare this fact with the almost count
less number of persons who are bitten
from year to year by dogs supposed to be
rabid. II 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 a
dog and hydrophobia than between an
accidental snocze and a stroke of light
ming
And yet what do we read in the daily
papers in connection with the present
hydrophobia scare? Judging from these
accounts, It would be fair to assume
that the community was as much ex-
posed tohydrophobia as to typhoid fever,
pneumonia, or any other OF tho ordinar-
lily common diseases Scarcely day
passes that some new cases of dog-bit-
ten patients do not present themselves
in the terrible plight OF fear Of hor-
rible death. 1t does not make any diff
ference. apparently, whether or not it is
known that the dog was mad; the pa
tient gets the benefit Of tho doubt and
tho so-callcd preventive does its perfect
work. And the cry is still they come.
Scientifically speaking, it is still to
be proved that this incubation of hy-
drophobic virus has ever prevented an
attack of hydrophobia or modified its
course. And whore arc the cases of hy-
drophobia said to be dying or dead
| throughout the country What has be-
come Of those which have been aban-
doned to their fate as beyond the reach
OF the preventive treatmentP Surely
such arc interesting enough to warrant
| detailed records in scientific journals.
And yet we never hear Of them except
in sensational reports connected with
the booming of the incubation theory,
and tho popularization of special hos
pitfalls in which tho alleged wonderful
treatment is practiced. We say this in
no captious spirit of criticism, butin the
true interests of hundreds who may be-
come necessarily 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 certain
ly hold him responsible for any
marked increase in the NOR
tality statistics from this dreadful dis
ease in case he fails in the performance
Of his duty. Then, again, If any of the
thousands OF physicians may meet with
q single case in lifetime Of practice
we may obtain some impartial records OF
the etiology, symptoms, diagnosis,
pathology, and treatment, and thereby
obtain much needed natural history OF
hydrophobia. Science always favors in
quiry and honors the conscientious in
vestigation. All praise, then, to the man
who has done the most work in that di-
reotion. His theory is an admirable
one, but it is still 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 a dog, cow. horse or
hen may still live; at least he or she
has much better chance for so doing
than either OF the offending animals,
even without further inoculation.-
Medical Record.