Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-07-24
The DOG IN HOT WEATHER.

direction of Georgetown"
The DOG IN HOT WEATHER.
There Are No Such Days as "Dog Days"-
How to Tell Whether a Dog Has Hy-
drophobis.
From Our Animal Friends.
The very first observation we have
to make on this subject is that there
are no such days in the years calendar
as "dog days." There are no days on
which, and there is no kind of weather
during which, dog is peculiarly liza
BILE to rabies. Rabies is 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.
It 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 hydropho-
bia from his bite at one time of the
year than at another. The phrase
"dog days" is a false and misleading
phrase, which all humane persons
ought to avoid in the interest of the
dogs.
We have said, and we repeat, that
hydrophobia is Que of the rarest of
diseases and that when it appears to
be developed we believe it, in the vast
majority of cases, to be a simulated
disease produced by a morbid imagina-
ton. We do not 60 SO far as to assert
that it is never caused by the bite of a
rabid animal and therefore we would
advise that all proper care should be
taken to destroy, without delay, all
animals 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 terror.
In the thirty years since the Amer.
lean Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals was established
our officers and agents have been con-
stantly on the outlook; but no un-
doubted case of rabies has even fallen
under their observation, or within
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 sim
gle 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 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 will note the following facts
you will have no difficulty. You will
probably find them to be quite differ
ent from the popular fancies by which
most persons are misled:
G). 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
aot swallow it and laps it with diff
Guilty.
(2). 1t is supposed that a 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,
usually in a strange place, where he
iogs along slowly. If he is approach
ed 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 mad dog. Therefore,
if any dog, under any circumstances,
utters any other sound than that OF a
hoarse howl, that dog is not mad.
az 1t is supposed that the mad dog
froths at the mouth. 1t is not so. If
dogs jaws are covered or fiecked
with white froth that dog is not mad.
The surest of all signs that q 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.
(5.) If your own dogis bitten by any
other dog, watch him carefully: If he
is infected by rabies you will discover
signs of it possibly in from six to ten
days. Then he will be restless, often
getting up only to lie down again,
changing his position impatiently, turn
ing from side to side, and constantly
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 i'm
agines to be near him. He will be ex
cessively thirsty, tapping water eager