The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-19
THE REPORT ON RABIES
Findings of a Committee Of the Dis
trict Medical Society.
Transmitted to the Commissioners by
Secretary Morgan Symptoms of
the Alleged Disease Described
Suggestions of Notifications to
the Present Dog Muzzle Order.

| the Present Dog Muzzle Order.
The Medical Society Of the District of
| Columbia, at its meeting on April II, 1900,
| adopted resolution to the effect that the
society should place itself on record as to
the true status Of the alleged di ease
known as hydrophobia, or ra5ie7. This ac-
tion was inspired by the fact that CongI ess
contemplated legislation on the subject,
and by the discussion which has arisen over
the dog muzzle order promulgated by the
| District Commissioners.
The resolution referred the matter 10 its
Committee on the Public Health, of which
DR.. ]. w. Chappell is chairman, for consid-
| Grafton and action. This committee, after
| considerable study of the literature OF the
subject framed report and submitted it
to the society. The report was yezte:d day
transmitted to the District Commissioners
by the secretary of the society, Dr. Francis
p. Morgan. 1t follows in part:
1T is not to be inferred that the mem
bers of the society need any arguments 10
| convince them Of the reality of rabies, CT
| that the committee can further enlighten
| them concerning it. for they are presum-
| ably as we'll, if not better, informed upon
the subject than are the members of the
| committee. Nor is this report intended to
| meet the objections of those who refuse to
accept the biological test and who at the
same time cannot or Will not believe the
testimony, such rs that here present d. of
| competent witnesses. Such persons old
not be conrinced-that is, if they are SIN
cere-by seeing case even, simply be-
cause, having no other cases for compare
son, there would be no means of veriEca-
ton.
"Of the reality Of the existence OF rabies
or hydrophobia, both among men and ami
mails, no reasoning or reasonable persons
who will take the trouble to investigate
can for one moment entertain doubt; and
until such an investigation has been made
no one has any right to make a positive
assertion. That many persons, including
physicians and other men of prominence,
have never seen case, although it may in
dictate the comparative infrequency of the
disease, particularly in man, is no argu-
ment whatever against its existence. The
same might be said in regard to a numter
of other diseases concerning which doubt
has never been expressed, or the same
might be said concerning the existence of a
foreign country or city, for example.
In the index catalogue of the Surgeon
Generals Office there are thirty-one pages,
besides a large drawer filled with cards. |
devoted to titles of articles upon hydro |
phebia, or to reports of cases that have |
occurred in nearly all parts of the world |
These reports come mainly from perfectly |
reliable sources and the articles, at least
most OF them, are by men of recognized
authority, who believe in the reality of
the disease and have had more or less
experience with It,"
The English View.
Reference is made to commission Of
very eminent physicians appointed in Eng |
land in 1896 by the House of Commons
to investigate Pasteur's treatment for
rabies, which commission approved the
treatment, and thereby. the Medical So
city's committee believes, declared the dis
ease-rabies-to have an existence. A |
select committee of the English House |
of Lords later investigated the question, |
reaching the same conclusion. The repre- |
sentative medical authorities of this coun- |
try, it is claimed. the men who do the |
thinking and teaching, recognize the i'm
portance Of the subject.
Rabies as defined by the Medical So
ciety's committee, sis an acute, specific
disease, due to a specific cause, a virus
rated by living germ-that is transmitted
only by incubation. This process. when it
is accomplished, is brought abou; almost
without exception by an animal suffering
from the disease, conveying to the wound
inflicted by his teeth, either uron an
other animal of upon man, saliva which
contains the virus
THE striking similarity II not exact
identity of symptoms land this anyone
I- 1~x1 xxEt1 oh
serve) in man well animals. widely
separated both to time and place, can
be explained in no other way except upon
the assumption that the disease is due
to specific cause; and the fact that the
disease has been transmitted from animal
to animal, month after month, year after
year, from the very beginning without de-
creasing in virulence cannot be accounted
for unless it is admitted that the virus
is living germ"
Symptoms of Hydrophobin.
The report describes very fully the
symptoms of hydrophobia in man. These
group themselves into three classes de-
scribed as predomal, furious and para
lytic.
The following is the committees de-
scription of the symptoms in the dog:
"A change in disposition. particularly by
seeking seclusion and manifesting signs of
irritation upon being disturbed either by
other dogs or by persons, particularly his
master, is characteristic of the first stage
of the diseasesia the dog.
I'm the secoDd stage his voice becomes
affected owing to commencing paralysis of
the muscles Of the larynX. and his bark or
howl is said-tu be by those familiar with
this symptom as almost pathognomonic.
His irritability increases and he has spells
uncomfortable during which he
attacks surrounding objects, chairs, car
pet his kennel, etc. These spells becom-
ing more frequent, he wanders away from
home, attacking persons as well as ami
mails IL they chance TO cross his path, and,
If he is naturally vicious dog, he will go
out of his way to do so. Often, too, he
will chew up and swallow sticks, stones,
pieces of coal, etc.
Contrary TO what is usually supposed by
uniformed persons. he is not afraid of
water but will even plunge into streams | ;
and in order to quench his intense thirst
will make desperate efforts to gulp down ,
the liquid, but which he has great difn-
Guilty in swallowing owing to beginning {
paralysis of the muscles of the throat and
lower Jaw. If he is not killed he usually ,
returns home, and the paralysis rapidly
to the muscles of the lower |
limbs and trunk and involving those of
he dies. The usual duration
Of the disease is from four to five days, but s
may in very rare cases be prolonged to ten ,
Wild animals, when affected, become very ,
audacious. and in the cat the tiger-like ,
ferocity predominates, and in her attacks I
she flies at the face and hands"
Speaking Of the period of incubation, :
the committee says ii is variable one. ,
depending. Pasteur says, not upon any {