Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-01
QUERIES & ANSWERS.
RABIES IN DOGS, AND TREATMENT OF
THE DISEASE.
Directions as to How to Raise q Colt
Natural Coks in vIrcinia-Cisrk
and Lewis.
HAGUE Posi- OFFICE. Va.

HAGUE PosT- OFFICE. Va.
To ne Editor ofGe D1Datca:
win you kindly answer, If possible. tho
following Since early spring there has
been considerable stir IN this section about
"mad-dogs," or dogs going mad. l Will
give you the symptoms; The dog first gets
restless; then Il disposed to wander Oh
and becomes very vicious and will attack
every and any dog. and refuses 10 eat.
In some cases the attacks prove fatal In
a few hours; again they 1--we for about one
week.
l have lost three: ono died in less than
twelve hours. another in three DAYS.
| had valuable setter taken last Satur-
day whilst hunting. / put him up and tor
two days he was violent, but he always
knew me and tried 10 eat, but seemed TO
be unable 10 swallow. He would lap
little water and milk, but kept his mouth
partly open all the time. His eyes were
sDnken, and he fell off rapidly.
Now, please, If possible, say what is the
matter and give me remedies and proven
tives. Il. III. a.
Among the many so-called symptoms OF
rabies In dogs. as laid down in the various
textbooks, oil the symptoms described by
our correspondent may be found. During
the present year many reports OF mad-dog
scares and excItements have been sent to
us from different parts of the State; and
this city has been more or less agitated on
the subject. but we are of opinion that not
single case of genuine rabies has ap-
peared in this vicinity.
Many diseases of dogs are mistaken for
the dreaded rabies. Collie, acute indges-
ton, inflammation of the stomach, cpl
lepsy, cborea. and paralysis are among the
affections which mostly cause suspicion
or alarm in the popular mind. and when
10 Is pointed out that these affections are
the usual complications of dog-distemper,
it is no wonder that so many mad-dog re-
ports are current. as distemper prevailed
among dogs to great extent this year.
Distemper in dogs IS a contagious dis
ease, and usually appears as an epizootic
of a specific type. There are different
types, however such as catarrhal, pulmo-
nary, intestinal. hepatIc, and cerebro-spi-
nal-and il Is a curious fact that when the
disease prevails to any,great extent a large
majority of the cases are Of the same type.
This year tne nervous form, or cerebro-
spinal type, characterized by epilepsy (tits
or convulsionsl, chores (St. VItus's dance),
and paralysis, was the form in which 1t
appeared. Higbly-bred dogs, of a nervous
temperament, are particularly susceptible
to this latter type, and the mortality among
them reached large percentage. Many
dogs died of the disease and quite large
number were destroyed on account of sap
posed rabies.
1t is q popular opinion that the first
symptoms Of dlstemper in dog Is dis
charge from the nostrIls and eyes, butsuch
an opinion is erroneous, as the first signs
observed may be fit. or the fits may not
occur until the last stage of the disease.
The treatment of the disease must be
according to the specific type manifested,
and even q synopsis Of the treatment for
the various stages OF the different types
would require more space than we can de-
vote toit. Prevention is TO be sought in
the removal of the healthy from the dis
eased, and providing clean, dry, ana we'll
ventilated quarters for the dogs. DO not
allow your healthy dogs to run at large
where they are liable to come IN contact
with affected dogs or places. Thoroughly
disihfect all places where affected dogs
have been kept. Bury deep or burn the
carcasses of dogs that have died OF the dis
ease. aud burn the kennels. boxes, bed
ding, etc, which have been contaminated
by affected dogs.