Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-05-17
NOT BECAUSE OF RABIES.
The Real Reason why Dogs Some
times Swallow stones, Sticks
and Grass.

Dog fanciers in Baltimore do not
agree with the able physician who IS
quoted as saving that the presence of
foreign substances, like pebbles, glass
and feathers, in dogs stomach makes
it certain that the animal was affected
with rabies. Mr.. Thomas j. Sheu-
brooks. who has made an internation-
al reputation as a raiser of st. BeF-
nards, was asked for his opinion on
the subject, says the Baltimore Sun,
and said:
1.-THE presence of the foreign mat
ter is by no means an Indication of
rabies. On the contrary, it shows that
the dog was suffering from some stom-
ach trouble, which may have given it
commissions and ca used it to act in a
manner which gave rise to the belief
that it was rabid. When dog is suf-
fering from one or a complication of
the disorders of the stomach and in
festines, it will swallow bits of most
anything that comes to hand, hoping
to find a counter-irritant which will
bring relief. 1t is really surprising to
know what they will swallow under
such circumstances and live. have
known several cases where large
out doing any damage"
One of the best and most successful
dog experts and raisers in the coun-
try is Mr.. Luke W. White, GIG Calver-
ton road. He was, as he says, 'bOrn in
the Kennels" his father having been
famous kennel keeper in Ireland. For
the past SO years he has been an ac-
knowledged authority on matters
canine, and has had much to do with
rabies, not only from the standpoint
of dog expert, but as a graduate of
medicine. He said:
''My opinion is that the mere fact
of finding foreign substances in the
stomach is almost a positive proof
that the dog did not have rabies. If it
indicates any brain trouble it indi-
Gates cerebro-spinal meningitis, which
in its outward forms is much like vio-
lent rabies, and is apt to make the dog
behave more in accordance with popu-
lar conceptions of rabies than the ra-
bies themselves. The fact that dog
swallows grass and occasionally a
small stone does not indicate radi-
caliy disordered system. The acids in
the stomachs of dogs are very strong
and very plentiful. Sometimes the lin
ing of the stomach becomes so charged
with these acids in excess of that re-
quired to digest the food upon which it
has been living that the dog seeks an
irritant which acts upon the walls of
the stomach and causes an artificial
flow of the acid. Grass is the counter
irritant provided by nature and the
one the dog prefers. 1t does not select
smooth grass, but that which has
priclkly edges and tieIles the little yes
sells containing the acids. If grass is
not at hand it will take hair, which
never kills. Lacking grass or hair not
being effective, it takes other SUBJ
stances, of which wood is the most
dangerous
EuroDe's System of Royal Succession.
The most general is that known as
the salic system, under which women
are completely excluded. This is the
rule in Belgium, Swe eden and Norway,
Italy. Denmark and Germany. Then
| there is the German-Dutch system un-
der which Germans in all degrees of re-
1ationship take precedence of females,
| the throne passing to the female line
only in case of the extinction of ali the
male lines, however remote. This is
/ the rule in Holland-from which the
| law takes its name Russia, and some
of the minor German states. The
third system is our own (Eng1ish} un-
| der which females are excluded when
there are males in the same degree OF
| relationship, but take precedence OF
males whose degree of relationship is
not so close as their own. Thus an
elder daughter of the ruling sovereign
| gives way to all her younger brothers
and their issue, but takes precedence
OF a male cousin or nephew. This
system is the rule in Spain and Portu-
gal as well as In EngIand.-St. James'
Gazette.