Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-13
x,p-noGs AND MADsTONEs.

rDro,, all parts Of the country come
rumors of mad-dog scares' ana suspect
"a canines are killed in short order' Inc
annrehensive condition Of the PUBIC
mind is largely due to the painful impress
sion left by the death Of the four baI-
,,,,,ora bovs. who were bitten by a st.
1,orrard dog. True, there is some ca
,,,u;ng as TO whether the boys died from
the effect of the dogs bite or from that
of the Pasteur treatment; but, IN either
case. the primary trouble was the MAD
dog aforesaid.
Not all the dogs that fall under suspi-
cion are mad; but. in case of doubt 1t
e better 10 solve the question IN taVor
Of ourselves. rather than in favor Of the
dog. We have heard some physicians
say that II would be much better TO chain
nm n suspected dog and await develop
ments than TO kill the creature out
right. for the reason that. should ne
nrove 10 be free Of rabies persons who
had been bitten by him would be mucn
relieved by knowing that fact No doubt
thew would be: but the difficulty would
be I'm catching and claiming the dog III
nIace where he could do no harm. We
should not think that volunteers for such
a service would be numerous CERTAIN
II is that it is better to shoot down
suspected dog than to allow him to run
M large and endanger the community.
And upon this theory people all over
This country are now acting. one can
scarcely open newspaper in which the
fate of some such dog is not recorded.
II Is fact that has been more than
once commented upon, that of late years
rabies has increased. The opponents
NJ the Pasteur treatment have not failed
20 make use of this circumstance, with
the view of discrediting that treatment;
but we are yet TO see any justification
for their course.
While utterly repudiated by tie medi-
cal fraternity, "the maidstone continues
In favor with the masses. The Dispatch
IS very frequently called upon TO inform
some one where such stone may be
found: assurance being given US at the
time that the stone is wanted for a per-
son who has just been bitten by a mad
dog.
Not having faith in madstones, we do
not keep informed as TO where they may
he found. or who are their owners. But
This we have ascertained-that in Vir-
einia, at least. there is a deep-rooted'
and well-night ineradicable popular con-
viction that the bite Of mad-dog may
he cured by the application of very
porous sandstone. generally known as
maidstone" and usually about the size
and shape of an egg
In nearly every Virginia neighborhood
there Is. or used to be, one Of these
stones. and many stories are current OF
the wonderful "cures" they have effected.
But II we are to take. the word OF
the medical faculty for 1t, the persons
thus "cured" are. or were, persons who
never had the rabies.
However, it is often said that. If the
maidstone can do no good, 1t can do no
harm; but may not this also be fallacy?
At any rate we should not care 70
have any such stone applied to any
wound OF ours without first knowing to
what uses 1t had been lately applied.
The cases of the Baltimore boys gave
IN the highly-inteiligent medical faculty
Of that city great opportunity to study
the disease In question. And we have
no doubt that the doctors made the best
nosslble use Of their opportunities. There
were eight boys bitten, Of whom four
died. From the experience acquired
a. the treatment OF these cases, we sup
nose that the medical profession is at
This time better qualified than ever be-
fore: but we venture TO say that none Of
them will recommend that reliance be
placed upon the maidstone. popular ia
vorite as II is.