Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-10-27
THE MAD DOG.

VI oOiO .iOOhihe SOAN" WI
went from one end of Main street to the
other and then around by other streets
swapping at all the dogs that could be
found. In his rounds he bit about twenty
five dogs that are known. How many
that are not known have been bitten, no
one can tell. He was finally followed by
Mr.. Hupp Keller and others and killed.
Our streets were we'll filled with people
when he passed but be made no attack
upon any person, on the streets. we
afterwards learned that ne had attacked
Mr. Arthur Smell OF Harrisonburg, while
riding bycicle, a short distance above
Woodstock. A dog supposed to be the
same one bit dog, and a horse belonging
to DR.. Hickman at Hswkinstown on
Thursday, and number of dogs at Edin'
burg. The Mayorot Woodstock promptly
issued proclamation requiring all parties
to keep their dogs off of the public streets,
unless the dogs are muzzled. Some Of the
dogs thai were bitten have been killed
and the others are tied and penned up.
1t would be well for citizens of the
country to watch their dogs closely, as
some from the country were bitten en- our
streets last Friday, by the rabid dog.
We print below an article from the
American Encyclopedia giving the symp-
toms of rabies and the necessary precau-
tions to be observed.
The most important thing, in every
point of view, is to diminish as far as
possible the chance OF a bite beng
inflicted at all and by far the best means
Of accomplishing this object is to put the
public on their guard by an accurate
knowledge of the symptoms of hydrOpho-
bia in the dog. The gent danger at present
consists in the fact that these symp toms
are not usually recognized until after a
wound has been inflicted; and animals
may thus propagate the disease among
their own species and communicate il to
man at time when they are not them
selves known to he hydrophobc There
are three capital errors, commonly en-
tertained by the public N this respect,
which add very mu:h to the danger
spoken Of: !, that the mad dog has
a horror of wGter and will not drink ;
2, that he is liable to the disease more
especially or exclusively II hot weather /;
and 3, that he always manifests q
ferOcious and aggressive disposition
Neither of these things is true and the
consequence is that dog in cool weather,
who is seen TO drink freely, and is not
especially feroclous, is looked upon with
ont suspicion and treated with familiar
Ity aud yet he may be hydrophobic
and capable ofinhictiDg a mortal wound
or Of communicating a fatal disease by
licking an abraded spot upon the hand Of
his master. 1t is evident, therefore, that
| it Is of the greatest consequence that the
true signs of canine hYdrophobia should
be recognized al an early period for a;
soon as a dog Is known to be rabd, there
is but little danger Of his being allowed
to bite. Rabies in the dog may occur
at any season, and is not more likely tC
STOW itself in warm than in cool wealth
or. Consequently all police regulation
intended to suppress or exterminat'
bydropbobia, which are enforced IN the
simmer months and suspended at othe
times, fail of their object, and may ever
do harm by inducing a fancied security
during the cool season. According to
the observations made by Prof. Ray a
the veterinary school of Lyons, in France
the number of cases in that district wa
greater during the rainy than during tt
dry months. The first symptoms o
bydrophobia in the dog, as described b.
Youatt and Bouley, consists in a gloom
and sombre disposition together with
nervous agitation and disq1ietude
which is betrayed by frequent change
Of position. The animal, usually cheer IL
and DESTROYS Of companionship, seeks
avoid his master OF his playmates. Fl
skulks into his kennel, mo a closet, int
the corners of the enclosure, underneat
pieces of furniture, and endeavors {
e escape notice. If called out, be obey
but slowly and unwillingly, and as 500
: as possible again betakes himself to hi
a retreat. In few minutes he is disatisfe
2 with il, and leaves it for another. The
be goes back to his litter, and takes
T apart or arranges it in a variety of way
: without being able to suit himself wit
, any. The expression OF his eye IS suspi
ious and uneasy: and in a few minute
= be is again wandering from place to place
t Now these signs, when taken singly, al
s not decisive indications of rabies. 1t
natural to the dog, when suffering und'
:. almost any temporary illness,to withdra
t himself from observation, and seek
retreat in some dark corner; bat b
generally remains there quiet until b
t begins to recover. IL is this desire
I avoid observation, combined with a
t incessant restlessness, which is peculi;
to commencing hydrophObia and whel
ever an animal shows these two symptom
together, moving constantly from pllC
to place, and searching in every corner {
. If looking for son sthiDg which he new
finds, be should at once be an object
suspicion, and properly watched unit
n his malady either disappears or become
y distinctly pronounced. The next sign
hydrophobia is that the animal has sligl
and temporary attacks of halluclnatio
He thinks be hears sound OF sees a
object which does not exist. This cond
tion IS fully recognized by veterina
experts. although its signs are often owe
:, looked by others. The dog Sudden
- pncks up his eaIs and runs to particul
-, spot, as If be had heard a noise on h
other side Of door or partition. Som