Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-09-10


What Is often
nothing more than an epileptic fit
or an attack of giddiness brought
on by heat and lack of oppor-
tunity to obtain water, ending, if
left alone, in a fainting fit, is changed
into real madness by the senseless cry
OF mad dog raised by persons who
know nothing about animal ailments.
From the statements of John P Haines
or the Society for the Prevention Of
cruelty to Animals, in the July num-
Der of Our Animal Friends, reiterated
and Endorsed by the editor of that jour-
nal, 1t appears that the popular idea
about canine madness is by no means
the correct one. He says in part: 81.
1t is supposed that a mad dog breads
water. 1t Is not SO. The mad dog is
very likely to plunge his head to the
eyes in water, though he cannot swal-
low 1t and laps it with difficulty. 2.
1t is supposed that a mad dog runs
about with evidence of intense excite
never runs about in agitation; he never
gallops; he is always alone, usually in
strange place, where he joys slowly
along. If he is approached by dog or
man, he shows no signs of excitement,
but when the dog or man is near
enough he snaps, and resumes his soil
tary trot. 3. If dog barks, yelps,
whines or growls that dog is not mad.
The only sound mad dog is ever
known to omit is hoarse howl, and
that but seldom. Even blows will not
extort an outcry from a mad dog.
Therefore, if any dog, under any cir
cumstances, utters any other sound than
that of a hoarse howl, that dog is not
mad. 4. 1t is supposed that the mad
dog froths at the mouth. 1t is not so.
If a dogs jaws are covered or fecked
with white froth, that dog is not mad.
The surest of all signs that dog is
mad is 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. S. If
your own dog is bitten by any other
dog, watch him carefully. If he is in
fected by rabies, you will discover
signs Of it possibly from six to ten
days. Then he will be restless, often
getting up only to lie down again,
changing his position impatiently turn
ing fEGH :sfas =. a,..:3-s-c1astantiy-
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 some
times snap at objects which he
imagines to be near him. He will be
excessively thirsty, tapping water Gag
erly and often. Then there will he
glandular swellings about his jaws and
throat, and he will vainly endeavor to
rid himself Of thick, ropy mucus dis
charge from his mouth and throat. If
he can, he will probably stray away
from home and trot slowly and mourn
fully along the highway or across coun-
Try, meddling with neither man nor
oeast, unless they approach him, and
.hen giving a single snap. The only
exception to his behavior occurs in fe-
:ocious dogs which, during the earlier
stages of the excitement, may attack
any living object in sight. These SYM
toms of rabies are condensed from
valuable information received from
physicians Of undoubted author
ity. What is to be done If
you happen to be bitten by
a dog that is supposed to be rabid?
The best thing you can do is just to
take a few vapor baths, as hot as you
can bear them. The perspiration will
eliminate any poison that the bite may
have introduced into your system. Then
endeavor to forget all about it. If you
follow this simple advice, the chances
are intellectually great that you will be
perfectly safe. But is there such a
thing as rabies and such
thing as a mad dog? Undoubtedly
there is, though have never seen one.
In the thirty 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 has ever
fallen under their observation, or with
in their knowledge; and, Of over 100000
dogs and other small animals which
have been cared for at our shelter dur
ing the past three years, not one single
case of rabies has been found. The
facts sufficiently prove that rabies 10
rare in this city and in the stated Bos-
ton, Mass.); but there is such disease,
and it is important for the public, as
we'll as yourself, that you should know
whether sick dog is or is not rabid."
Mr.. Haines further says that dogs are
no more liable to rabies in July and
August than in any other two months.
There are, however, many things in
summer which tend to make dogs more
irritable than in winter, and conse-
quently more liable to snap at persons
with them. Flies irritate
them sometimes beyond endurance. The
sting of a wasp is enough to make them
tear down the street in an alarming
manner, and worms frequently bring
on fits. But the most fruitful source Of
evil is the terror inspired by bands of
boys who delight in goad-