Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-19
ANIMALS BREED DISEASE,
How Acute Mania is Often Attributed to
>Hydrophobia
The Cat ~ . Cause II Epadenaies-
Danger OF FoAAliAg
Domestic Pets.

phobia." said an insanity expert to a Star
reporter yesterday. However. we mad
doctors DO not share the popular belief
respecting that complaint.
Il was called in the other day to attend
the case OF q young woman who was dying
with all the symptoms Of so-called hydro
phobia. She was in commissions. When Of
fered water in a tin receptacle she bit
right through the sheet metal. She barked
now and then like a dog and frothed At
the mouth.
''The average general practitioner would
have diagnosed the case as hydrophobia
on hand. But there was one objection to
that theory-the patient had never been
bitten by a dog or by any other animal.
unless 1t were an insect Not only was
there no question Of mad dog, but there
was no dog at all in the history Of the
disease. The latter was nothing more nor
less than what the insanity specialist terms
acute mania
Acute mania Is a complaint which mani
tests itself in all of the symptoms which
are commonly attributed to hydrophobia.
the sight not only OF water but of food.
such manifestations varying in different
cases. Barking like a dog, frothing at the
mouth and biting at whatever is within
reach are quite usual. The unfortunate
must be served with both food and water
In tin receptacles, to avoid danger. In nine
vases Cut u lcl ucdlH euSUSS.
us there no danger then in being bitten
by rabid dog? Certainly there is-very
great danger. What is the matter with
the familiar complaint called 'septicaemia.
or blood poisoning. His bite Is likely to
communicate blood poisoning to the person
plant. Sometimes it happens that the indi-
viduai bitten receives 30, severe a shock
from the fright that the nervous system is
upset.
In such a case acute mania may set in.
To bring that about. the dog need not be
rabid-to speak more accurately. 1t need not
be suffering from blood poisoning: 1t may
be perfectly healthy, and yet the fright oc-
casioned by its bite may induce the danger
GUS nervous trouble of which speak. !
think that have made myself clear. Take
particular notice of the fact that acute ma
mia may be brought on by a variety OF caus-
es Independent Of the canine species. But.
IL the patient has happened at any time pre-
viously to be bitten by dog, the trouble Is
at once attributed to that, and the cry OF
hydrophobia is raised.
Now / will venture to say that one per-
in his or her life a wound. slight or other
| wise, from the teeth OF a dog. frequenty
such injuries are inflicted by playful pup
pies or otherwise accidentally. when you
consider that this animal Is the mtlmate
friend and constant companion OF man. II
Is hardly surprising that such should DC tne
fact. You say that you yourself nave oeen
slightly bitten on two occasions. suppose,
as is quite possible. that you were tsken
with acute mania, barking like a dog. foam
ing at the mouth and exhibiting ,s,s asp pesa
tives refer the symptoms to one OF tnose
dog bites? OF course they would II you
died, you would be advertised IN the news
papers as a victim Of hydrophooia-
! What 1 tell you is not merely theory
Of INV own. It represents the belief OF ex-
perts in nervous diseases generaiIy. HOW.
ever since I have spoken In defence OF
the dog let me say something more with
relation to that other favortte household
companion of mantle cat. l would nrft
call your attention to the fact that the cat
is a beast far more useful to mankind than
the dog Without the latter we could get
along but IL We had no cats we should nave
a continual plague Of rats and mice, which
would overrun the cities and devour the
crops and small live stock OF the farmers
AT the same time yon may set II down
an indisputable truth that the domestic
cat is q prolific source Of a great variety
of diseases. It breeds them and dissent
mates them, skin troubles particularly; IL
carries about with II the contagion Of diph-
therie. one Of the most fatal OF human
complaints. and it is seriously suspected of
helping to sow the germs OF consumption
! the scalp and causes the hair to fall out
| is frequently conveyed by cats. Likewise
Is Sos sfares ke Tni to s
abroad by the pet pussies Of the establish
| ment.
sickness In a house old cloths are apt &c
| be used for various purposes. These arc
| commonly thrown afterward into some out
| of the way place like the corner Of q
| closet. Suppose that there is q tabby about
| that is on the point OF bringing into the
world litter of kittens. Female cats are
constantly having kittens. as you know
| She searches for a sequestered nook for
| her accouchment and Is likely to make her
| bed of Just such a lot Of old rags as
| have described.
las a natural consequence, not only Is
! the mother cat infected as to her fur with
| the contagious disease. but all OF her KIT
| tens are likewise. The latter are fonlled
| by the children. Pathosenic germs s':em tc
| find most favorable breeding ground In
the hair of cats. AS a result, the complain
| Is spread. Unfortunately, the infection If
| not limited to the house. 1t is spread abroad
| by the cats which are notorious .,tragglars
| Thus before many days have passed there Ii
| an epidemic Of scarlet fever or what mo-
| in the neighborhood. Nobody can Imagine
| how 1t got about. Little Johnny dies O
| diphtherta and nobody dreams that ne con
| tracted 1t by picking up strange cat.
| Children have way of picking UP cats
| them. That accounts for many Eases OF
| that very disagreeable disease called rihs
worm. 1t is the same way with other skir
| troubles that are contagious. Cats, as vel
| as dogs are liable to tuberculosis Of the
| lungs. otherwise known con assumption
| That they communicate 1t to human Eejpg.
! Is more than suspected. By the way 1t Is
worth mentioning that the woody 10Y ami
| mails Of the nursery are not desirable play
| things. Disease germs are retained and
bred in the wool, and the fondling Of then
| ton through the household"
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