The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-05-24
HYDRopHoBIA RARE.
Very Few Cases as the Result of a
Bite Of Dog.

ally supposed TO be the result Of being
bitten by mad dog, yet only one dog
bite in many thousands results in hy-
drophobia, aud that one sometimes has
been playfully inflicted by perfectly
healthy animal, says the Philadelphia
Times. According to the consensus OF
opinion of a number of physicians,
however, there is no need of single
case of it among human beings if three
simple rules are followed.
The first, naturally, IS to avoid being
bitten if possible. Take no chances
with any dog, sick or well, pet or a
stranger, as the germs of poison may
exist where least suspected.
Second, If bitten. go without delay to
a reputable physician and have the
wound, however slight it may be, thor
Oughly treated and cauterized, and con
tinue under his care until it is healed.
Third, and highly important: Do not
be alarmed about the result. Fear and
worry are deadly aecompIices Of the
disease, and cases are known where
fatal results are believed to be due solely
to these agencies.
The subject has been very frequently
discussed among physicians, and it nat
urally furnished the principal topic in
gathering, some time ago, consisting
of six well known doctors aud two of
their unprofessional friends During
the last few days each of the six had
talked on the subject and exchanged
experiences and opinions with other
physicians, so in the course of the even
ing the views of at least thirty medical
men were given. The experiences Of a
few practically covered those Of all so
far as cause and results were concerned.
Several cases were mentioned of per-
sons who were bitten by animals un-
dOubtedly rabid, where treatment was
not given until the poison was well es-
tablished in the system. These invari-
ably proved fatal. OF others whose
wounds were of a similar nature, who
received prompt attention and proper
care, and there were many Of these, all
recovered except several who We're
among those who believed from the
start that fatal results would ensue and
whose fears could not be removed, al
though some Of these experienced no
serious effect in spite of their alarm.
Yet the percentage Of fatalities is really
very small. One doctor summed it up
as follows:
"HydrophObia is so rare aud so hOr-
rible in effect that every case attracts
attention, and there is seldom one in
tbs United States that we do not hear
OF il. Yet is seems that not more than
dozen or fifteen cases are known in
year. Among 10000, 900 people there
might easily be 10000 bites from dogs
alone. This would be an average of one
bite day in about 30 900 people. 1t is
probable that comparatively few peo-
pie who are bitten take any treatment
whatever, beyond simply washing the
wound. Doubtless it is only infre-
quentIy the bite is at AL poisonous. and
even when it Is if the wound bleeds
freely the virus may all be washed out.
There may be persons on whom the
bite of a rabid animal would have no
serious effect, but it seems to be estab-
lished beyond doubt that when the dis
ease of hydrophobia is developed it has
50 far been ineurable."
"Inover thirty years practice" said
another, II have come in contact with
bat two cases, and one really should be
called lifsiphobia, as the disease was
certainly superinduced by the mental
condition OF the patient She was a
colored servant, bitten by her mistress
pet dog in New Orleans. She received
prompt aud careful treatment from the
leading physicians of the city, and it
was apparent that the animal was in
no way diseased, but the girl insisted
from the beginning that she would die
like mad dog and it took her only
ten days to work herself into a coDdi-
ton which usually takes six to eight
weeks 10 develop. She died in fright
full agony, with all the symptoms OF hy-
drophobia. The other was a child. l
saw him one day teasing puppy, and
warned him that he would be bitten If
ne did not desist. Nearly two months
later | was called to attend him. His
mother said the boy had not been feel
ing well for several days, and she
thought dose of castor oil would BEN
eft him. After looking at bin / alb
ruptly opened the window, allowing a
draught of air 10 sweep over the bed,
and the boy was seized with slight
CONFUSION The muscles Of his th-Oat
contracted and exhalation caused what
people call the barking sound. On in
quiry l learned that the boy had been
bitten on the day saw him, but the
wound was so slight, only one tooth
just breaking the skin, that the child
did not complain Of it, aud even forgot
to mention it until the next day. His
life could not be saved. In one OF these
cases death was certainly due to fear,
but in the other the mental condition
had no part whatever"
Another case mentioned was that of
an Irish labOrer, brought into st.
Louis hospital with unmistakable
symptoms Of hydrophobia. To the
physician in charge he strenuously de-
MED ever having been bitten by an an
imal. Then a slight scar over his eye
brow was noticed and he remembered
that pet dog had bitten him there
eight months before, but he insisted
that it amounted TO nothing. He was
not allowed to suspect the nature of his
trouble, but, nevertheless, he died Of
hydrophobia. Nervous or mental con-
dition clearly had nothing to do with
this case.
The power of the Imagination in de
veloping the disease, and the result Of
needless and criminally foolish gossip
about the matter in the presence of a
person who had been bitten by a dog,
were strikingly illustrated in another
of the anecdotes.
''Years ago, said this doctor, 'I lived
in an iowa village, aud one day was
..tf... - a. -. r. ....... f-t-s...t.