Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-05
THE DISEASE OF RABIES.

| VI ltLlDllNJt
II required many years of patient
eclentinc research to lead the ablest
investigators to clear and CHI Ar
acteristic comprehension of the cause.
nature and characteristics of rabies,
and 1t Is only recently that this has
been accomplished, says D. L. Salmon,
chief OF Chicago Bureau OF Animal
Industry, in Chicago Tribune. As the
Investigations by which we have come
to tolerably clear understanding OF
the facts concerning rabies have been
comparatively recent, and have APP
peared for the most part in scientific
periodicals, fallacies in regard to the
disease still have strong hold upon
the public mind, and are industrinusly
circulated 10y many who believe they
are working in the cause of truth and
humanity.
The symptoms of rabiss are such as
We should expect from serious disease
OF the central organs of the nervous
system first, irritation; second, paralysis
and death. The rabies virus appears to
have little effect upon the system until
it reaches the brain and spinal cord.
There it multiplies, sets up Irritation,
and finally interrupts the functions.
Rabies is generally divided into two
forms: First. furious rabies; second,
dumb rabies. In the form er the animal
is irritable, aggressive and bites nearly
every object which comes in its way ;
In the latter the muscles of it's Jaw are
paralyzed almost from the first appear
ance Of symptoms, and. being unable to
bite, the animal remains more quiet
and tranquil.
In most cases dogs first become dull,
gloomy, morose, taciturn, seeking soli-
tude and isolation in out Of theway
places, or retiring under pieces of furni-
ture. But in this retirement they
cannot rest; they are uneasy and
agitated; they lie down and assume the
attitude of repose, but in few minutes
are up again, walking hither and
thither, ''seeking rest, but finding
none. 1t becomes more and more
desperate in its efforts to prepare
comfortable bed, paving or scattering
the straw, or, IL in house, scratching,
tumbling and tearing cushions, rugs,
curtains, carpets and everything of that
kind within reach.
The disturbance OF the sensations
leads to ohills and itching. If the
place where the bite occurred is auces-
sible, the dog licks the scar, and later
bites and tears the tissue. This tearing
| OF the flesh is not always confined to
the site Of the incubation, but certain
regions OF the body appear to lose their
sensitiveDess. and at the same time to
convey to the brain the sensation of
itching. The animal in this case bites
into It's own flesh with apparent pleasure
n mr. ant .,lx IL. 81
food until the disease ia considerably
advanced, II it is something which can
be swallowed without mastication;
otherwise it ia dropped after remaining
short time in the mouth. Difficulty
of swallowing is an early symptom, and
frequently leads the unsuspecIIng owner
to conclude that the animal has Zone
In his throat. A dog which appears to
have bone in his throat is ON general
principles one Of the most dangerous
animals in existence. The supposed
bone may be there, but on the other
hand, the symptoms which lead to this
supposition may be due to partial
paralysis caused by rabies, and the
owner may be inooulated with the
virulent saliva while ttrusting his
finger or hand in the dogs mouth to
discover bone which has no existence
but in bis imagination.
1t is commonly believed that mad
dogs have fear of water and are unable
to drink, but there could be no greater
mistake. In this respect they differ
entirely from the human patient. They
have no fear or dread of water, but con-
tinue to drink until paralysis has pro-
crossed 30 far that they are no longer
able to swallow. the fact that a sus-
peoted dog is seen to drink or wade into
q stream Is, consequently, no evidence
that he is not mad. When the furious
symptoms come on the dog leaves his
home and goes upon a long chase, with
no apparent object in view other than to
be travelling onward. lie fires at and
bites dogs and persons whom he meets,
put usually does not apparently search
for them, or even notice them if they
remain quiet Often after an absence
Of day or two they return to their
home, presenting a most forlorn and |
miserable appearance. Those who have |
pity for such an animal aud try TO
make 1t clean and comfortable are in
great danger of being bitten, for the |
disease has advanced to point where |
the delirium of insanity is most marked |
and where treacherous bite is most |
common.
As death approaches, the animal be.
comes exhausted and scarcely able to
stand; the eyes are dull and sunken,
and the expression is that of pain and
despair. Paralysis appears in the jaws
or In the posterior extremities, and
extends rapidly to other parts of the
body. The animal, being unable to
stand, lies extended upon its side; the
respiration becomes more and more
difficult; there are spasmodic con-
fractions of certain groups of muscles,
complete prostitution, and death. The
ordinary course OF the disease is four or
five days it may be as short as two days
or as long as 10 days.
When the dumb form of the disease
is typical it comes on with restlessness,
depression, a tendency to lick objects,
and paralysis of the muscles which
close the jaws. As consequence of
the paralysis the lower jaw drops, the
animal ie unable to close the mouth,
the tongue hangs out, and an abund-
ance of saliva escapes. The mucous
membrane of the mouth becomes dry,
disclored and covered with dust. The
animal remains quiet, does not respond
to proyocations, and appears TO under
stand its helpfulness As Boulay has
said, the animal cannot bite and does
not desire.to bite. When dumb rabies
follows pei iod in which the animal