New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-09
DELUSIONS ABOUT MAD DOGS
GENUINE CASES OF RABIES DECLARED
TO BE VERY FEW.
HOW VICTIMS or THE DISEASE REALLY BEHAVE
STATEMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT OF IH~
SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF

HOW VICTIMS or THE DISEASE REALLY BEHAVE
STATEMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT OF TH1
SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF
CRUELTY To ANIMALS.
There is a popular deusior regarding the preva-
ence of madness among dogs. especially In the sum-
me- season. John f. Haines, president OF the
American Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty 10
Animals. IS authority for the statement that or
the thousands Of alleged mad dogs reported by the
newspapers and police few. II any, are really mad
The general opinion seems to be that when a dog
acts at all strange, runs around banks or does any
thing to call attention to him, he is mad and must
be shot at once Otherwise he might bite some one
with dire results In this hot SPELL when man and
beast alike are suffering from the effects OF the
suns rays the mad-dog story is revived While
men and women are being picked up in the streets
and taken to hospitals. while horses are falling In
their tracks and being shot TO put them out OF
misery the poor dog. mans favorite companion Is
again made the subject of unwarrantable SANDER
II reports could be relied upon all dogdom has gone
mad within the last few days.
Mr. Haines told a Tribune reporter that 1t was a
great mistake that the public should have been KEEP
so long ignorance Of the true features OF mad dogs
Much of the terror and fear OF hydrophooa when
now existed might otherwise have been avoided II
people could led understand that real mad dog
was of exceedingly rare occurrence, and that there
was little danger from dogs which acted in the man
ner usually described as mad a great load would be
lifted from the minds Of many anxious parent and
guardian.
The common notion OF a mad dog one that
frohed at the mouth, ran wildly through the streets
swapping at every one that came IN MS way ana re-
fused 10 drink or go wa.er. The true symptoms
II was said desire on the part OF the amman 70
get Into the water and put his mead IN IT, mere is
no frothng al the mouth. Instead, there is dark
thick sfickv substance which eXudes from H. IN
stead of running wildly about. the mad dog VIII go
off by himself and suk. His tendency IS rather 10
leave his home and roam aimessly about the country
He seldom exhibits desire 10 bite or mo!est any one
Mr. Haincs says that hydrophobia IL NOT as
case OF dogs az all II dog were mad, the scien-
tdc term applied was rabies caninis. A person
hitter by a dog thus afflicted might have hydro
phobiu or might not. Hydrophobia was not GER
tain result. ,-... ,.h,s,
AS an Illustration OF the general ignorance whlch
nrcvais ON the subject case was cited OhlE
vrithin the last few days woman owning small
not dog became frightened AT its peculiar actions
and called I'm a veterinary surgeon. lie al once
nronounced the dog mad. and said that ne would
have 10 be shot As a last hope, the woman caiien
i'm inc family physician Upon examining the doS
he said the animal not mad. the woman said
She would like TO have the dog taken TO the sQcl-
etv's ONCE and was thunderstruck WREN the phy-
scian offered 10 carry him there in his ms. when
he did The doctor not bitten
Mr. Hanes dcporcd the fact that there was "A
company organized for the manufacture ana saic
Of cure for hydrophobia In IT'S eifort 10 40 Dusl
ness II was constantly agtating the delusiVe no
tlons about mad dogs. He expressed great u'sre
10 see the newspapers take up the subject ana enu-
cate the people up understanding oil H.