Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1897-08-12

knowledge; and, of over 160, 200 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 is
rare In this city and in this state; but
there Is such a disease, and 1t is inn
portant for the public, as well as your
self, that you should know whether q
sick dog Is or is not rabid. If you will
note the following facts, you will have
no difficulty. You will probably find
them to be quite different from the
popular fancies by which most persons
are misled.
81. 1t is supposed that a mad dog
breads water. 1t is not 80. The mad
dog Is very likely to plunge his head
to the eyes In water, though he can
not swallow it and laps it with diff
Guilty.
s'2. 1t is supposed that mad dog
runs about with evidences of intense
excitement. 1t is not SO. The mad
dog never runs about in agitation; he
never gallops; he is always alone, us
ually in a strange place, where he jogs
along slowly. If he is approached by
dog or man, he shows no sign of ex-
citement, but when the dog or man is
near enough, he snaps and resumes
his solitary trot.
$50. If dog barks, yelps, whines or
growls, that dog is not mad. The only
sound a mad dog is ever known to
emit is hoarse howl, and that but
seldom. Even blows will not extort
an outcry from mad dog. There
fore, if any dog, under any circum-
stances, utsers any other sound than
that of a hoarse howl, that dog is not
mad.
so. 1t is supposed that the mad dog
froths at the mouth. 1t is not so. II
a dogs jaws are covered or fiecked
| 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 vainIy to tear away with his paws
| or to wash away with water.
ss5. If your dog is bitten by any
| other dog, watch him carefully. Hhe
is infected by rabies, you will discover
signs of it possibly in from six to ten
days. Then be will be restless, often
| getting up only to lie down again.
changing his position impatientlyl
turning from side to side, and con-
stantly licking or scratching some
particular part of his head, limbs OF
body. He will be irritable and inclined
to dash at other animals, and he will
sometimes snap at objects which be
imagines to be near him. He will be
excessively thirsty, tapping watel
eagerly and often. Then there will be
glandular swellings about his jaws and
throat, and he will vainly endeavor tt
rid himself of thick, ropy, mucui
discharge 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
country, meddling with neither maj
nor beast, unless they approach him
and then giving single snap. Tit
only exception to this behavior occur
In ferocious dogs which, during th'
earlier stage Of excitement, may at
tack any living object in sight.
"These symptoms of rabies are con
densed from valuable information re
ceived from physicians of undoubte'
authority"
| We are told further by Mr.. Haine
that dogs are no more liable to rabie
in July and August than in any othe
two months.