Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-21
MApsToNEs OF NO AVAIL.
Persons Bitten by Rabid Animals
Should Take Pastcur Treatment.


| To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
Sometime ago there appeared in the
Dispatch an account Of the little Malone
child being bitten by mad cat. Suisse
| quently, 1t was brought here with the
view Of obtaining the supposed beneficial
| effects of the maidstone. Not finding
| any here at that time, it was taken to
| Pasteur's Institute, at New York, where
from last reports 1t was doing quite
| well.
1t is through your very excellent col
umns that l wish to point out to the
public the valuable time that Is not in
frequently lost I'm seeking remedies,
which, when applied, are Of doubtful and
fallacious worth.
Hydrophobia, rabies, or mad-dog's bite
go per cent. Of all cases being due to
| the dogs bite and but few to the bites
Of other animals) Is disease, which,
by reason of its great mortality, unless
timely and properly treated should re-
| ceiye prompt attention, rather than lose
precious time taking the patient from
place TO place looking for a maidstone.
We of the medical profession are agreed
in the belief that the disease Is caused
by specific virus. micro-organism, or
germ which enters the circulation OF the
patient through the abraded or bitten
surface from the saliva Of the rabid
animal. After entering the blood IL Is
no longer a local affection, but has be-
come constitutional in character. There
fore. IL Is rather interesting TO understand
how a porous stone can induce the germ,
surrounded as IL is. with all the luXuries
Of warmth, nutrition, and a good time
to leave the human system and take up
its abode I'm the cold, cherries, and un-
I'll 81 ia
when it must play a losing game O.
freeze-out If the maidstone possessec
caustic properties that would devitaize
the bitten tissues and thus destroy a,
virus, or II it possessed greater absorp
tive power than living tissue and
we're employed before the poison had
time to enter the system, then it might
be used with fair chance Of success
But such is not the case, and It's en-
ployment, after the disease has become
systemic is quite as efiicacious as if a
person stood at the main entrance Of a
house and tried to prevent the escape Of
n robber from the inside when there
were hundreds of other avenues OF escape.
Ii takes about ten days before Pasteurs
treatment gains supremacy over the
nelson circulating in the system, and
il Is only I'm this way that the disease IS
held in check, stamped out, and the patient
eventually restored to health. Every day
that is wasted before the patient
begins this treatment makes the remedy
do double duty. and adds fuel to an al
ready brilliantly glowing fire. The
chances for recovering after the first ten
days are indeed poor, and the hospital
attendants are loath TO commence treat
ment after that time, because, after
the disease has once become firmly cs-
fafa Ia
that there is not time enough left for the
remedy TO eradicate the poison.
In view OF these facts, what preventive
treatment should be employed in the
interim between the biting OF the patient
and getting him to a Pasteur hospital?
Certainly not to go around the country
looking for a maidstone, and even IL
one were within easy reach its use would
avail nothing. The first step would be
10 send for physician, but while wait
ing for him to come the homo folks can
do O great deal. II the circulation or
the part bitten can be cut on from the
rest OF the body, construction should be
APPLIED at once 10 the proximal end by
means of a good, stout string or cloth.
Then the wound should be thoroughly
cauterized with any caustic, caustic
potash being especially good, and while
this may not be at hand In all cases, stu
we have a preparation OF potash In the
ordinary concentrated lye 10 be found in
almost every household. To be sure. this
Will make a considerable sore, but 1t Is
a hundred times better to have living
person with scar than a dead one
with a nicely healed wound.
| think 1t unwise for person TO suck
the wound before It is cauterized, because
there may be an abrasion or scratch
mon the mucous membrane OF the good
samaritan's mouth and he runs the risk
of Infection.
The Pasteur treatment Is soon 10 De
rendered Iess expensive. and more con-
vsuient by the erection OF hospital Tor
this class Of patients in Baltimore.
Let US give up the mythical virtues
ascribed to the maidstone and give our
patients the full benefits of scientific
ARTHUR JoRDON, N. ID.
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