The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1897-11-08
NO DOG DAYS.
And Mad Dogs Are Few and Far
Between.
So says a Reliable Authority ON such
Matters-Hence We should Not
Cry "AInd Dog' Too
Soon.

there are no such days in the year cal
endar as dog days. There are no
days on which, and there is no kind of
weather during which, dog is pecu1-
iarly liable to rabies. Rabies is a rare
disease at all seasons of the year, and
there are no more cases of rabies in
July or August than in December or
January. 1t follows. therefore, that
there is no more reason to dread our
family friend, the dog, in hot weather
than in cold, and no more reason to
dread hydrophobia from his bite at one
time of the year than at another. The
phrase dog days is false and mis-
leading phrase, which all humane per-
sons ought to avoid in the interest of
the dog.
We have said, and we repeat, that
hydrophobia is one of the rarest of dis
eases; and that when it appears to be
developed, we believe it, in the vast ma
jority of cases, to be a simulated dis
ease, produced by morbid magma
ton. We do not go so far as to assert
that it is never caused by the bite of a
rabfd animal; and therefore we would
advise that all proper care should be
taken to destroy without delay all an
imals that are affected with rabies. Yet
here again we must recall the fact that
rabies itself is one of the rarest of all
the diseases with which dogs and other
animals are affected When we hear
the cry of Mad dog!" the chances are
millions to one that the dog is not mad;
it is the people who are mad with ter
ror.
In the 80 years since the American
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals was established our officers
and agents have been constantly on the
outlook, but no undoubted case of
rabies has ever fallen under their OBJ
servation or within their knowIedge;
and of over 100000 dogs and other
small animals which have been cared
for at our shelter during the past three
years, not one single case of rabies has
been found These facts sufficiently
prove that rabies isrrare in this city and
in this state; but there is such disease,
and it is important for the public, as
well as yourself, that you should know
whether sick dog is or is not rabid If
you will note the following facts you
will have no difficulty. You will prob
ably find them to be quite different
from the popular fancies by which most
persons are misled.
1. 1t is supposed that mad dog
breads water. It is not so. The mad
dog is very likely to plunge his head to
the eyes in water, though he cannot
swallow it and laps it with difficulty.
2. It is supposed that a mad dog runs
about with evidences of intense excite
ment. It is not So. The mad dog never
runs about in agitation; he never gal
Iops; he is always alone, usually in a
strange place, where he jogs along
slowly. IF he is approached by dog or
man he shows no sign of excitement,
but when the dog or man is near enough
he snaps and resumes his solitary trot.
3. If a dog barl1s, yelps. whines or
growls that dog is not mad. The only
sound a mad dog is ever known to emit
is a hoarse howl, and that but seldom.
Even blows will not extort an outcry
from a mad dog. Therefore, if any dog,
under any circumstances, utters any
other sound than that of hoarse howl,
that dog is not mad.
4. 1t is supposed that the mad dog
froths at the mouth. It is not so. If a
dogs jaws are covered or f1ecked with
white froth, that dog is not mad. The
surest of all signs that dog is mad is a
thick and ropy brown mucus clinging
to his lips, which he often tries vainly to
tear away with his paws or to wash
away with water.
5. If your own dog is bitten by any
other dog, watch him carefully. If he
is infected by rabies you will discover
signs of it possibly in from six to ten
days. Then he will be restless, often
getting up only to lie down again,
changing his position impatiently,
turning from side to side, and constant
1y licking or scratching some particular
part of his head, limbs, or body He
will be irritable and inclined to dash at
other animals, and he will sometimes
snap at objects which he imagines to be
near him. He will be excessively thirsty,
tapping water eagerly and often Then
there will be glandular swellings about
his jaws and throat, and he will vainly
endeavor to rid himself of thick, ropy,
mucous discharge from his mouth and
throat. If he can he will probably stray
away from home and trot slowly and
mournfully along the highway or
across country, meddling with neither
man nor beast unless they approach
him, and then giving a single snap. The
only exception to this behavior occurs
in ferocious dogs which, during the
earlier stage of. excitement, may at
tack any living object in sight.-Our
Animal Friends.
Executors Notice.