Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-07-20
THE DIAGNOSIS OF RABIES.
A Government Specialist Writes Of This
Ailment OF Dogs.

A Government Specialist Writes Of Thi,
Ailmept of Dogs.
DIR. d. e. Salmon Of the Buraeu
of Animal Industry. writes on the
subject of rabies in the Agricultural
Department Yearbook. = just issued,
and after referring 10 its continuous
| increase in the United States speaks
of the difficulties in recognizing the
nature of the malady. On this point
he says that there are two forms OF
Irabies the furious and the dumb In
the former the animal is irritable
and aggressive. and bites nearly every
/ object that comes in its way in the
latter, the muscles of the Jaw are
paraiyzed almost from the first npreaI
ance of symptoms, and being unable
to bite, the animal remaius more
quiet aud tranquil. In both forms
the disease is the same and the saliva
is equally deadly. The dogs with
dumb rabies are less dangerous, sole
| ~ because, their jaw muscles being
natalyzed. they are upahle TO bite.
The difference in the two foims OF
the disease is due to the greater
rapidity of the developments Of
dumb cables. Every case of furious
rabies eventually turns to dumb
rabies, for paralysis is one of the final
symptoms. What is called the drop
jaw form is when the symptom oc-
ours on the first day of the disease In
stead of after an interval of two, three
or more days. as In the case OF
furious rabies. The symptoms OF
furious rabies appear very gradually.
The animal appears restless and is
very apt to become more affectionate
than usual, fawniDg and kissing the
hands or face of its master as though
seeking sympathy or aid. This is a
particularly dangerous demonstration
| for if there is the slightest abrasion
CD the skin there is almost certainty
of incubation. There are many In
stances in which hydrophia has been
impaired to human beings in this
way. Another very dangerous
symptom is when the dog apparently
has 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 gotten the disease by
putting their hands in dogs mouth
to relieve 1t Of the supposed bone.
The fierce biting and Shaping at ever
thing which eventually developes in
to furious rabies is merely the result
of delirium.
DIR. Samons declares that the popu-
lar belief that mad dog breads
water is facllacy and he also dis
putes the truth of the universally
credited opinion that the disease oc-
ours only in the hot season. He
brings forth statistics to show that
there is little or no difference in the
prevalence of the disease between
summer and winter. He explains
the we'll known fact that the de-
velopment of hydrophobia after inoc-
ulation varies in time from seven
days to tweleve months and longer,
| by the theory that the virus must
reach the brain and spinal cord, and
the bacilli multiply there before the
whole system is infected; and that
the virus of rabies doesn't spread
through the system so quickly as
many other forms ofinfecticn. Anoth-
er reason for this delav is probably to
be found in the greater Susceptibility OF
different individuals. and in the con.
dition of their blood. As means
of protection DIR. Salsmon advises the
destruction of wandering, worthless
dogs, and the enforcement Of law
providing, for the muzzling or lead
| ing by chain, of the respectable
members of the dog community.