Evening journal., 1897-09-21
NO .OG DAYS.
And Mad Dogs Are Few and Far
between.
So Says a Reliable Authority on Such
satters-ucnce We should Not
Cry MAD Dog" Too
Soon.

Now. the very first observation we
have 10 make on this subject is that
there are no such days in the years cal
endar as dog days" There are no
days on which, and there is no Kind of |
weather during which, a dog is pecul-
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. j 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 a 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
iority Of cases, TO be a simulated dis
ease, produced by a morbid imagina-
tion. We do not go so far as to assert
that it is never caused by the bite Of
rabid animal; and therefore we would
advise that all proper care should be
taken to destroy without delay all am
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 30 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
seryation or within their knowledge;
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 is rare in this city and
in this state; but there is such a disease.
and it is important for the public, as
well as yourself, that you should know
whether a sick dog is or is not rabid. If
you win note the following facts you
will have no difficulty. You win prob
ably find them to be quite different
from the popular fancies by which most
;, persons are misled.
l. 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
swallow it and laps it with difficulty.
2. 1t is supposed that a mad dog runs
p about with evidences of intense excite
ment. tits not so. The mad dog never
runs about in agitation; he never gal
lops; 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 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 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. tt is supposed that the mad dog
p froths at the mouth. 1t is not so. If a
o dogs jaws are covered or fecled with
). white froth, that dog is not mad. The
# surest of all signs that dog is mad is a
d thick and ropy brown mucus clingino
Ia. frf. r.1s
y tear away with his paws or to wasl
y away with water.
8. If your own dog is bitten by any
~ ~ other dog. watch him carefully. If h'
is infected by rabies you will discover
i signs of IL possibly i'm from six to ter
/ days. Then he will be restless. Otter
d getting up only TO lie down again
D, changing his position impatiently
q. turning from side to side, and constant
p ly licking or scratching some particula
r part of his head, limbs. or body. II
n viii be irritable and inclined to dash a
y other animals. and he will sometime
- snap at objects which he imagines 10 b
., near him. He will be excessively thirsty
ID tapping water eagerly and often. The
there viii, be glandular swellings abou
n. mis- jaws and throat. and he viii vainl
It, endeavor TO rid himself Of thick. ropy
OF mucous discharge from his mouth an
ad throat. If he can he will probably stra
or away from home and trot slowly an
IN mournfully along the highway q
>, across country. meddling with neithe
,,, man nor beast unless they aPproac
at him. and then giving single snap. Th
r. only exception to this behavior occur
o. in ferocious dogs, which. during th
Sc earlier stage of excitement. may a
en- tack any living object in sight.-Ou
to Animal Friends.
nd ETect of Electricity on seeds.
he Exnerirnents reeentIv made ot II