The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18
NO DOG DAYS AND A FEW MAD DOGS.
Therefore, Consider the Dog ana Deal with
Him In nm InteIusent way.


FSom Our Animal Frfends.
Now, the very first observation We have to
make on this subject Is that there arc no such
days in the years calendar as dog days"
There arc no days on which, and there is no
kind Of weather during which, a dog ia 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 Deccm.
Der or January. 1t follows. therefore, that there
Is no more reason to dread our family friend. tho
dog, in hot weather than in cold. and no moro
reason to dread hydrophobia from his bite at
one time OF the year than at another. The
phrase dog days" 10 a false and misleading
phrase, which all humane persons ought to
avoid In the interest Of the dog.
We have said. and we repeat. that hydropho-
bia is one of the. rarest Of diseases; and that
when it appears to be developed. VIC believe 1t,
in the vast majority Of cases, TO be n simulated
disease, produced by q morbid imagination.
We do not go SO far as to assert. that it is never
caused by the bite Of p rabid animal; and there.
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 arc affected, When We
millions to one that the dog is not mad; it is the
people who are mad with terror.
In the thirty years since the American Society
for the Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals was es-
tablished. our officers and agents have been con.
%stnntly, on the outlook. but no undoubted case of
or within their knowledge; and OF over 100, 900
dogs and Other small animals, which have been
cared for at our shelter during the past three
found. These facts sufficiently prove that rabies
is rare In this city and in this State; but there is
such a disease, and 1t is important for the pub
whether q sick dog is or is not 70 bid. II you will
Guilty. You will probably and them to be quite
different from the popular fancies by which
most persons nre misled.
l. 1t is supposed that q mad dog breads water.
" is not so. The mad dog is very likely to
plunge his head to the eyes in water though he
2, 1t is supposed that n mad dog runs about
with evidences of intense excitement. 1t is not
he never gallops; he is always alone. usually in a
strange place, whore he joys along slowly. II
sign of excitement, but when the dog or man
IS near enough he snaps and resumes his soil.
3. II a dog banks. yelps. whines. or growls
that dog is not mad. The only sound n mad dog
Is ever known to emit is n hoarse howl. and
cutlery from a mad dog. Therefore. if any dog,
n tbae any Circumstances, ptters any other sound
4. II is supposed that the mad dog froths at
the mouth. 1t is not So. lfndog's jaws ARE COW
cred or nccked with white froth. that deg is not
lipss, which DO often tries vainly 10 tear away
~ uib paws ID T 10 Whsn AWAY Win water.
5. II your own dog is bitten by any other dog.
watch, him carefully. IL he is infected by rabies
you Will discover signs OF it possibly in from six
to ten days. Then he will be restless. often get.
ting up only to lie down again, changing his po-
constantly licking or scratchinr some perticular
part of hts head, limbs. or body. He will be ir.
ritable and inclined to dash at other AMI.
objects which he imagines to be near
him. He will be excessively thirsty. lap
ping. water eagerly and often. Then
there will be glandular swcllings about his jaws
and throat. and he will vainly endeavor to rid
himself Of a thick, ropy, mucous discharge from
ably stray away from home and trot slowly and
mournfully along the highway or across coun.
try, meddlihR with neither man nor beast I'M
less they approach him. and then giving n single
snap. Tho only exception to this behavior oc.
stage OF, excitement. may attack any living OBJ
ject in sight