Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-02
.PUBL|C TO Be PROTECTED
CRUSADE is BEGUN AGAINST DOGS
Ward off the Hydrophobla Epidemic
Rabies In General.

The community mas Oeen. greatly
exercised over the fact that one dog
had died with hydrophobia, and before
he died bad bitten at least fifty or
sixty other dogs who were likely to be
inoculated with the disease, AS d
consequence the city authorities have
passed a rigid ordinance that no dog
will be allowed to run at large for an
indefinite period OF time. The Clark
Lyon dog died on the sixth day and
his head was sent to Madison for the
purpose Of establishing the nature OF
the disease. 1t is generally believed
that the dog died Of hydrophobia and
too stringent regulations with other
dogs cannot be too rigidly enforced.
We believe that every dog that was
known to have been bitten by the
Lyon dog should be killed as matter
OF precaution. We append a short
synopsis Of the symptoms Of the
disease as follows:
RABIES IN GENERAL
Some Of the following symptoms are
present in rabid dogs: The dog is Of
variable temper, refuses his favOrite
food, passes quickly from excitement
to depression, swallows the most
unusual substances, trembling of the
limbs and falterlng gait. 1t becomes
unruly and obstinate, sometimes timid
and suspicious. There is often
marked secretion from the nasal
passages, some embarrassment in
swallowing. Finally the dog gets
desire to wander away from home,
and a marked disposition to bite is
noticed. There is also a change In
the dogs voice the bark being more
like prolonged howl and unlike
anything else In the way Of canine
sounds. There Is an absence Of the
sense OF pain In mad dog-a red-hot
poker will be grasped and held In the
mouth. Dogs will bite themselves
and still utter no cry. Exhausted 10y
the paro1ysms and the fighting and
the wandering, the dog will Still con-
tinue on In it's unsteady gait, with
the tail between the legs, eyes wander
ing, the head rolling from side to
side, apd the mouth open with the
tongue protruding.
Rabies, or hydrophobia, is thought
to be Occasioned only by the specific
poison from rabie animals. Its prin-
cipal phenomena are connected with
an exalted reflex irritability, chiefly
Of the respiratory center; later
symptom as an exalted feeling Of the
mind Rabies depends for it's trans
mission upon incubation Of poisonous
virus into the blood.
Rabic infection may come from the
teeth or bite of a diseased animal.
There is reason to believe that the
virus is dangerous at period some
what previous to the development of
the marked signs OF rabies in the dog.
The danger is proportiOnally increased
as the teeth Of the dog are sharp, and
the wound is deep and penetrates the
flesh to greater degree. Another
source of danger is the flesh or blood
Of animals dead from rabies, which
constitutes peril to those who may
be employed in the disposal of the
bodies, or making poSt-mortem
examination.
The length Of time after the intro
duction OF the virus into the system
before the symptoms OF rabies make
their appearance, is variable one.
The most frequent period is from
three to eight weeks after the inocula
tion, although some have been affected
within the first day. A person who
has been inoculated with the virus
will have restless and anxious feeling.
Often the malady will affect the
throat and the respiratory system
following an after 1T to swallow. A
general feeling Of illness, an impending
dread Of something frightful about to
happen, tightnesS about the throat,
difficulty in breathing, are among the
common complaints Of the sufferer.
Violent paroxysms follow, showing
evidently that the whole nervous
system is in very excited state.
Mucus Is secreted by the glands and
violently expelled from the mouth.
Violent commissions Of the muscles OF
the larynX and pharynx take place,
closing the wind-pipe. Hallucinations
come on, and sometimes wild delirium.
There are intervals, however, when
the sufferer is calm and rational.
Paralysis finally sets in and the victim
is relieved by death, which occurs
between the first and sixth day after
the first onset of the symptoms of the
disease.