The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-22


be served at the close of the meeting.
NO DOGS DAYS AND A FEW MAD
DOGS.
Therefore, Consider the Dog and Deal
with Him in an Intelligent Way.
Now,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, a dog is peculiarly liable
to rabies. Rabies is rare disease at
all seasons of the year, and there are no
more cases of rabies in July or Au-
gust than in December or January.
1t follows, therefore, that there is no
more reason to dread our FAM
fly 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 hy-
drophobia is one of the rarest of dis
developed, we believe it, in the vast ma
jority Of cases. to be simulated dis
ease, produced by morbid imagination.
We do not go so far as to assert that it
Is naver caused by the bite of rabid
ANIMAL and therefore we would adj
wise that all proper care should be
taken to distroy without delay all
animals that are affected with rabies.
Vet hor GO IN raoo1J fhn faaf
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; 1t is the people who are mad with
terror
In the thirty years since the Amer
lean Society for the Prevention Of CRU
city to Animals was established our of
Ulcers 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,
no one single case of rabies has been
found. These facts sufficiently prove
y
this state; but there is such a disease,
and 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 mislead.
&c. hot a
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 1t and laps it with difficulty.
2. 1T is supposed a mad dog runs
about with evidences of intense ex-
element. 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 joys along
slowly. II he is approached by man or
dog 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, yeIps, wines, or
growls that dog is not mad. The only
sound mad dog is ever known to emit
is hoarse growl, and that but seldom.
Even blows will not extort an cutlery
from mad dog. Therefore, If any dog,
under any circumstances. utters any
other sound than that of a hoarse growl
that dog is not mad.
A, 1t is supposed that the mad dog
froths at the mouth. It is not so. If a
dogs jaws are covered or f1ecked with
white froth, that dog is not mad. The
surest Of all signs that dog is mad is a
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.
s. If your own dog is 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 to lie down again, changing
his position impatiently turning from
side to side, and constantly licking OIL
scratching some particular part Of his
head, limbs, or body, he win be irritable
and inclined to dash at other animals
and he will sometimes snap at objects
which he irnagines to be near him. He
will be excessively thirsty tapping wa
ter eagerly and often. Then there will
be glandular swellings about his jaws
and throat. If he can he will probably
stray away from home and trot slowly
and mournfulIy along the highway OF
across country meddling with neither
man nor beast unless they approach
him, and then giving single snap
The only exception to this behavior oc.
ours in ferocious dogs. which, during
the earlir stage of excitement, may at
tack any living object in sight.-Our
Animal Friends.