Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-10-07

| TOMS DESCRIBED.
&C., &C., &C.
In view of the many and recent mad-dOg
scares reported in various communities
throughout the county, and by request
DR.. A. j. Burkholder veterinary surgeon
of Fishersville has furnished for publ
cation the following interesting article on
rabies and it's sympto ms as found in man
and beast:
Rabies (Rabio, to rave,) or as 1t is some
times enormously called, SO far as the low.
er animals are concerned, hydrophobla
| (fear of water is a disease of rare occur
renee, originating in the canine, and less
frequently. in the feline race. During the
progress of the malady specific virus is
developed in the saliva of the affected ami
NAL, which being implanted through a
wound, bruise, or thin epidermis without
wound or abrasion, conveys the disease to
man and other animals. After an indei-
mite period of latency, it causes pain and
stiffness in the bitten part, excitement
feverishness, inability to swallow liquids, a
tendency to bite, great prostration, paraly'
sis and death. Three circumstances in the
pathology of rabies are worthy of mention.
namely: First, That the period of latency
after incubation is very indefinite, and that
it varies in different animals. Second
That incubation does not always produce
the disease, One-fourth of the inoculated
animals generally escaping; and Third
That the disease is not transmissible tt
man, mammifers, OIL birds, by the usual
media at a later period than tweuty-fou1
hours after the death Of the rabid animal.
Or after the cadeveric rigidity has COM
pletely invaded the body. The virus of
rabies is contained in it's most concentra.
ted form in the saliva of the rabid animal:
but it by no means follows that other parts
of the diseased animal are free from its
presence; indeed, direct experiments have
shown that the poison Is present in the
blood, flesh, and other parts of ,rabid ami
mails. The virus of the rab1d skunk, wolf
and hyana appears to be more virulent and
prompt than that of the dog. It was at
one time believed that the virus was
innocuous when the bite was inflicted by
the horse, cow, or sheep Observation Oh
accidental cases had led to this belief, and
direct experiments seemed to confirm its
correctness.
But later experiments have shown con-
clusively that the disease can be transmit
ted to any animal, including man; from
horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, domestic fowls,
OF from any other warm blooded animal
affected with the disease. The facility
with which the disease can be transmitted
by different species depends, besides the ac-
tivity OF degree of virulency Of the infect
| ing principle, upon the organization, habits
OF rather nature of the diseased. Flesh
eating or carniverous animals, such as the
dog and cat, as is well known, attack other
animals with their teeth, consequently they
are the most successful in inoculating with
the poison. The virus having been intro
duced into the system, generally lies DOR
mant for a very indefinite period of time,
the shortest period in the dog being about
seven days, and the longest five months, in
man from three days to nine months, and
even ten years in rare instances; in the
horse generally from fifteen days to three
months, and even fifteen months have
elapsed before symptoms of rabies were de-
veloped; in the sheep from fourteen days
to three months, hogs from few days to
eight months, and SO on down the scale.
| showing that the period of latency varies
greatly in all animals. 1t is an extremely
difficult matter to divert medical literature
of technical terms and expires sions more or
less incomprehensibl to the general reader,
but will endeavor to describe the symp-
toms of rabies in the dog avoiding the use
of terms understood only by the profession
al. There are no premonitory signs in the
lower animals, at least none that can be
observed by the professional. such as
pain in the seat of the bite, melancholy and
irritability, febrile disturbance, and slight
stiffness about the head and neck. The
dog, when the period of latency is passed,
becomes restless, watchful, withdraws
from its companions, choosing solitude
stunning the light, hiding in corners, OF
under any structure that affords protec.
ton, being fidgety, lying down, then jump.
ing up again in an excited, unnatural man
ner; it has a tendency to rove about the
premises, not satisfied in any way with its
surroundings, often going several miles
distant, returning however about as sud.
emily as it disappeared. Along with these
symptoms there is often a desire to lick
anything cold OF to rest the nose against q
cold oject. such as iron, or stone, and tt
pick up stones, bits of wood, straw, &c
At this stage of the disease there is no de-
sire to bite, but as the disease advances The
dog will make run of several miles very
rapidly, biting frequently quite number
of animals before he attempts to return
home. Quickly then the movements be
come unsteady, the eyes follow objects in {
peculiar staring manner, sometimes the
dog Will stare at some imaginary object
then with mad rush grab for what he
supposed was an object within reach. The
appetite which has been poor, now is lost
but the thirst is considerable and the act o.
drinking, which has been performed during
the first stage of the disease without mucl
difficulty, now becomes very difficult, no
from any fear of water, but owing to ;
!, spasmodic construction Of the throat, an(
the animal will plunge the muzzle deeply
into the water In attempting to quench it,
great thirst. There is brownish coating
on the tongue; the nose and mouth are fou
and offensive, and there Is generally flow
of saliva from the mouth. The mad dos
when brought into the presence Of one Of
} its own species, exhibits great excitement
: evaporation and fury, with desire to at
tack and destroy what seems the object o
its hatred. The bark of the rabid dog il