Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-06

| CANNES - Genuine Rabies Produced ONLY
BY neutrality-suspicious. and Treatment.
"There are various reports to the effect that
our city is infested with rabid dogs" said
well-known veterinary surgeon to a STAR re-
porter. "With all the encouraging statements
and scientific investiga tions recorded and
noted from the day Of the ancient Greeks to
the present time in regard to rabies there
seems to be nothing that strikes an individual
/ or a community with more terror than the re-
port that mad dogs are running around the
neighborhood. When We calmly consider
that typical case Of rabies or the more famil-
lar term hydrophobia (signifying 'the fear
Of water misnomer in canine pathology is
| comparatively . rare disease and seldom met
with, yet every section has its periodical mad
dog excitements, and. when sifted down, the
majority Of cases are found to be spurious
hydrophobia.
AT this day CANNES are so closely bred for
| their various points for the field. bench or
fashion that We have developed a class Of dogs
that are delicately organized and susceptible to
many ailments OF a nervous character such as
| epilepsy, megrims, chorea, neuralgia. spinal
meningitis. congestion Of the brain, apoplexy,
DC. Even indigestion in its various forms,
uoHtitiou anu iuterual parasites Will produce
symptoms which, to q casual observer and the
uniformed, would be regarded as hydrophobia
and have caused the destruction Of hundreds
| Of valuable and useful CANNES
AN UNREASONABLE SUPERSTITION.
"Of the many superstitions unworthy Of
| notice the most unreasonable and deep-rooted
opinion is that If dog is not Immediately de-
stroyed after biting person, SO long as the
animal lives so sure is the one bitten liable to
hydrophobia. Common sense should teach us
the fallacy Of this idea; there are many circum-
stances that warrant the destruction of dogs.
| but the above statement should not prevail, as
thousands have been bitten by dogs without ill
effect, and it Is an established fact that only 5
! per cent Of the people bitten by rabid dogs
contract hydrophobia. 1t is remarkable, never
| theless, that we have cases on record where in
/ dividuals OF highly nervous temperament and
vivid imagination have SO brooded over their
| injuries as to develop a condition and train OF
| symptoms that simulate hydrophobia. and have
die1 In the greatest agony, and it has been
proved later that the dog was not rabid.
| PRODUCED BY INCUBATION ONLY.
1.-THE general impression is that certain
seasons especially the heated term and dog
days are most favorable for the develop ment OF
rabies. Such is not the fact. as We find the
majority Of cases during the season Of the year
/ when we have not the extremes of heat and
cold. Rabies is u disease found in all ATTITUDES,
| but mostly In the temperate zone while in the
torrid and frigid it is almost unknown. Rabies
or hydrophobia is q specific and infectious dis
ease, produced only by incubation. The active
principle OF the virus is due probably to germ
which IL as vet undiscovered. Many contend
| that 1t originates spontaneously and is also
| transmitted BY tho atmosphere, food and
| water Rabies has an incubative period, the
shortest being seven days and prolonged to
| many months. Usually the disease in dogs is
manifetted in from twelve to fifteen DAYS. No
| animal is exempt and birds are even affected
by this terrible malady. Some beasts are more
susceptible to the action of virus than others.
Man shows the least predisposition, while dogs
are most frequently affected, as their habits and
dispositions court the trans mission Of inocula-
| ton.
| SYMPTOMS IN THE DOC.
age, condition, sex or breed are not exempt
| from this ailment, which is developed in two
forms, the furious and the tranquil or dumb
rabies The premonitory signs and symptoms
! usually pass unnoticed-the animal desires Sc
cluson and will hide in out-of-the-way corners,
| &C.. and when called responds reluctantly.
| taking the first opportunity to sneak away when
observed. For two or three days this strange
action may continue, and the animal becomes
unusually nervous, excitable and restless.
gathers straw. rags and other material until
almost exhausted and becomes drowsy and
obllvious to his surroundings. When least ex-
pected he will suddenly start up and stagger
aimlessly about, moan piteously and shake his
head, and, II summoned by his MASTER does not
respond readily. HE eyes have become
CLASSY, bloodshot and vacant. He seems
to breathe with difficulty and pants labori-
ously and in short gasps. His throat is
parched and sore, drinks greedily and
with difficulty, aud his thirst seems to
be unquenchable. He is seen to champ his
jaws and to attempt to swallow a thick. viscid,
ropy saliva which collects about his mouth and
in dazed way endeavors to remove it with his
paws. His appetite has become totally de-
PRAYED, he refuses to eat the most tempting
food and is partial to all filthy material and
excrement, both solid and liquid. BY this time
symptoms rapidly develop, the animal snaps at
imaginary objects, banks and yelps in the most
unnatural and peculiar tone. The least excit-
ing cause renders him furious, he PUSHES at
anything blindly and is especially aroused by
the appearance OF other dogs. If at liberty he
runs swapping, snarling and biting any crea-
ture or object in his path until overcome by
exhaustion or violent spasms and death.
DUMB RABIES
manifest similar symptoms, only they are no.
SO violent. There is but little of the peculiar
combination Of the bark and howl so character
istic Of the furious form. Another well de-
fined symptom is the dropping OF the lower Jaw
and lips due to paralysis OF the controlling
muscles. A post-mortem shows that appear
ances have developed no characteristic lesions
sdiiFary Riduus, puarynA-EryHA sWolen con-
gested and abnormal The brain, spinal cord
and saliva chiefly produce the virus.
AS a rule rabies is rapidly fatal, though cases
may hnger for days. wish to emphasize the
fact that at no stage Of the disease does dog
dread water, nor will the sight or sound Of it
produce spasms. Again, during the most vio-
lent thro es the poor brute will at the sound of
his masters familiar voice apparently regain
consciousness for q few seconds and almost
plead for relief.
TREATMENT.
"All affected animals should be Immediately
killed. Those suspected should be quarantined
until they either develop rabies or are pro-
nounced safe. Rabies in either form cannot be
cured. Statements to the contrary are denied.
1t Is not pleasant experience to be bitten by a
dog under any circumstances, and it is always
advisable to have the injury properly treated.
In animals we treat the injuries locally by some
caustlc, as nitrate of silver or actual cautery,
and constitutionally as the patient may require
II the symptoms are not developed within three
months i'll man. we are comparatively safe, and