The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1901-12-13
DIAGNOSIS OF RABIES
Two Forms Of tho Disease, the Furious
and the Dumb.

Two Forms Of the Disease, the Furious
and the Dumb.
DR.. d. e. Salmon OF the bureau Of
animal industry writes on this sub
ject in the Agricultural Department
Year Book" just issued, and after re
ferring to its continuous increase in
the United States, speaks Of the diff
Guilty In recognizing the nature Of
the malady. On this point he says
that there are two forms Of rabies
the furious and the dumb. In the
former the animal is irritated and
aggressive, and bites nearly every
object that comes In its way; in the
latter, tne muscles of the jaw are
paralyzed almost from the first ap-
pearance Of the symptoms, and, being
unable to bite, the animal remains
more quiet and tranquil. In both
forms the disease is the same and the
saliva is equally deadly.
The dogs with dumb rabies are less
dangerous, solely because their jaw
muscles being paralyzed, they are
unable to bite. The difference in the
two forms of the disease is due to the
greater rapidity of the development
of symptoms in dumb rabies. Every
case of furious rabies eventually turns
to dumb rabies for paralysis of the
jaw is one of the final symptoms.
What is called the "drop-jaw form"
is when the symptom occurs on the
first day of the disease instead Of
after an interval Of two, three or more
days, as in the case of furious rabies.
The symptoms Of furious rabies APP
pear very gradually. The animal
appears restless and is very apt to
become more affectionate than usual,
fawning and licking the hands or face
of its master as though seeking SYM
patny and aid. This is a particularly
! dangerous demonstration, for If there
is the slightest abrasion of the skin
there is almost a certainty of inocula-
| ton. There are many instances in
which hydrophobia has been impaired
to human beings in this way. Another
very dangerous symptom is when the
dog apparently has a bone in its
throat and is unable to swallow. This
simply means that paralysis has set
in. The saliva at this period is very
virulent and many persons have
caught the disease by putting their
hands in dogs mouth to relieve it
which eventually develops into furi-
Gus rabies and is merely the result Of
delirium.
DR.. Salmon declares that the popu-
lar belief that a mad dog breads
water is a fallacy; and he also disputes
the truth of the universally credited
opinion that the disease occurs only
in the hot season. He brings for
ward statistics to show that there is
little or no difference between summer
and winter. He explains the we'll.
known fact that the development OF
hydrophobia after incubation varies
in time from seven days to twelve
months and longer by the theory that
the virus must reach the brain and
| Dpludl CO1u3 gJuu InC bcIC1lAI AAuAIARAJ
there before the whole system is in
fected; and that the virus of rabies
does not spread through the system
so quickly as many other forms Of
delay Is probably to be found in the
greater susceptibility of different in
dividuals and in the condition Of
their blood.
AS a means Of protection Dr. Sal
mon advises the destruction of wan
dering, worthless dogs, and the en-
forcement of law providing for the
muzzling or leading by chain of the
respectable members of the dog com
munity. If these precautions coulC
be considerably enforced the write
believes that hydrophobia would b.
an extinct disease in a comparativel.
short time. His contention is Ger
tainly supported by the result
obtained in cities, both here and il
other countries, in which muzzlin
has been insisted upon.-Medica
Record.