The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-04-07
How to Tell a Mad Dog.
Christian Advocate.

How to Tell q MAD Dog.
Christian Advocate.
When the cry of "mad dog" is raised
in the streets, the chances are thous-
and to one that the dog is not mad.
Moreover, when person is bitten by .
dog really mad, the dangers of hydro
phobia are very slight indeed. Such
are the facts, contrary to common be-
lief.
: The best cure for one that 10 bitten
by dog that is supposed to be rabid
is to take few vapor baths, as hot as
can be stood. The perspiration result
ing from this will eliminate any poison
that may haye been introduced into
the system. Then endeavor to forget
all about it. After this treatment tho
chances of having the rabies are very
small.
How to tell when dog is rabid
should be known by everyone. Most
people think that when dog is sick it
is rabid. To know whether sick dog
is or is not rabid is 80 clearly defined
BY John p. Haines in Our Animal
Friends that any one can easily tell by
remembering the following facts he
has given to the public. They are
quite different from the popular fancies
F6y which most persons are mislsd:
IL. 1t is supposed that mad dog
breads water. It is not 80. The mad
dog is very likely to plunge bis head
to the eyes in water, though he cannot
swallow it and laps it with difficulty.
-. tits supposed that mad dog
runs about with evidences OF intense
excitement. It Is not 80. The mad
dog never runs about in agitation he
never gallops be isalways alone, usual
ly in strange place, where he Jogs
along slowly. Ii he is approached BY
dog or man, he shows no sign ofexcite-
ment, but when the dog or man Is near
enough, be snaps and resumes his
solitary trot.
"3. II 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 growl and that but seldom.
Even blows will not extort an outcry
from a mad dog. Therefore, II any
dog, under any circumstances, utters
any other sound than that OF hoarse
> growl, that dog is not mad.
J ~. It is supposed that the mad dog
froths at the mouth. 1t is not 30. 1t
dogs Jaws are covered or flecked with
, white froth. that dog Is not mad. The
surest of all signs that dog is mad Is a
thick and ropy brown rnucus cl'nging
q to his lips, which he often tries vainly
:. to tear away with his paws or to wash
. away with water.
IS. II your own dog is bitten BY
= any other dog, watch him carefully. 1t
= he Is infected by rabies, you will dis
.. .. cover 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'
" turning from side to side, snd constant
=. ~ " licking or scratching some particular
: part of his head, limbs, or body. dc
y will be irritable, and inclined to dash
- at other animals, and he will sometimes
y snap at objects which he imagines Il
-, be near him. He will be excess,vel,
- thirsty, tapping water eagerly and often
" Then there will be glandular swelling
about his jaws and throat, and he vii
!. vainly endeavor to rid himself OF
ne thick, ropy, mucous discharge from III
mouth and throat. If he can, he vii
probably stray away from home ant
~ trot slowly and mournfuIly along tn
highway or across country, meddl'n
with neither man nor beast, unless the
we approach him, and then giving singl
en- snap. The only exception to this b<
, ,aS havior occurs in ferocious dogs which
rn during the earlier stage Of excitemen
to may attack any living object in Sigh
nc, "These symptoms of rabies are COZ
1as densed from valuable information n
70 vs ceived from physicians OF undoubte
lie, authority"
my We are told further by Mr.. Hain'
70 that dogs are no moro liable to rabbi
~. M in July and August than in any oth'
months.