The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1897-09-18
FEW MAD DOGS.



have to make on this subject is tina,
"Aaere are no such days in the years cal
endar as dog days" There are NJ
days on which, and there is no kind O.
weather during which, dog is pecul
iarly liable to rabies. Rabies is a rars
disease at all seasons of the year, anc
| there are no more cases of rabies il
July or August than in December OF
January. 1t 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 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
bydrophobia is one of the rarest of dis
eases; and that when it appears to be
developed, we believe it, in the vast ma
jority of cases, to be simulated dis.
ease, produced by morbid imagina-
ton. We do not go 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 an
finals 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 80 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.
servation 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 disease.
and it is important for the public, as
well as yourself, that you should know
whether sick dog is or is not rabid. If
you will note the following facts you
will have no difficulty. You will prob
ably find them to be quite different
from the popular fancies by which most
persons are misled.
1. 1t is supposed that 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 mad dog runs
about with evidences of intense excite
ment. 1t is not so. The mad dog never
runs about in agitation; be never gal
Tops; he is always alone, usually in a
strange place, where he joys 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 trof..
3. If a dog barks, yelps, whines or
growls that dog is not mad. The only
sound 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 hoarse howl.
that dog is not mad.
4. 1t is supposed that the mad dog
lroths at the mouth. 1t is not so. ia
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 vainly to
Tear away with his paws or to wash
AWAY with water.
5. Ii your own dog is bitten by any !
other dog, watch him carefully. If he
S infected by rabies you will discover
signs of it possibly in from six to ten
lays. Then he will be restless, often
getting up only to lie down again, I
his position impatiently,
urning from side to side, and constant
y licking or scratching some particular
part of his head, limbs, or body. He
y AL oS iAfisuDtc oiii luCliueO 10 QdSQ AT
'ther animals, and he will sometimes
map at objects which he imagines to be
lear him. He will be excessively thirsty,
apping water eagerly and often. Then
here will be glandular swellings about
lis jaws and throat, and he will vainly
'ndeavor to rid himself of thick, ropy,
mucous discharge from his mouth and
hroat. If he can he will probably stray
way from home and trot slowly and
nournful'y along the highway or
cross country, meddling with neither
nan nor beast unless they approach
i'm, and then giving single snap. The
My exception to this behavior occurs
n ferocious dogs, which, during the
arlier stage of excitement, may at
ack any living object in sight.-Our
animal Friends.