The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-06-19
ABOUT MAD DOGS.
They Never Froth at the Mouth Nor
Have Bloodshod Eyes.
HARMLESS IN FIRST STAGES.

law .oluOuSuOU EYcS. tit
HARMLESS IN FIRST STAGES.
a Good Isulc Is Always to Turn.
Outior n Dog that Won't
Turn Ont for
The following article from the New
York Journal on mad dogs will be
read with interest by our readers:
"Ninety-nnc out of a hundred peo-
pie don't know mad dog when they
see one. The very symptoms which
they believe indicate rabies are the
surcst tests thata dog is not mad,''
DR.. James McDonough, of the
Watching Kennels. who Invited the
school children Of Montclair. MI, to
visit his dog sanitarium last Saturday
and observe from safe place the ac-
tions OF dog In the second and final
stage OF robes, made this statement:
n all. my experience" said the doc
tor, and ! have been treating dogs
tor fftccn years, have never seen a
mad dog ;froth at the mouth. Tn the
contraryi the mouth Of dog that is
really rabid is dry and parchcd. Neither
have | eyer seen dog with rabies
rush about like the dogs we read about,
with head lowered and eyes blopdshot,
snappings and biting at everything
with which he comes in contact.
Tho real mad dog seldom attacks
unless he Is interfcrcd with. | have
followed mad dog over a country
road and seen him trot by within two
inches of people who were quietly con
versingrnot knowing that the animal
WAS mad
The sudden hot weather having re-
vived the fear Of MAD dogs, an Amcri-
can rcpnrter visited Mr. McDonough
ut his dog sanitarium in NIontclair,
ond asked him about the prevalence of
rabies and the manner in which the
danger may be aycrtcd.
DR.. hlcDonough smiled as he replied:
Gao speak only for NIontcair and
| am most positive that there is no
epidemic of rabies here. don't be-
licye there is rabid dog in this town.
| have one dog here in my sanitarium
that l am keeping under observation.
lie Is very active and might bite you
II you got too close to him; but | don't
believe he is mad.
There Is a great popular miscon-
ccpti0n on the question of rabid dogs
| firmlt believe that If the public we're
properly educated in the observance Of
dogs. the cases Of rabies would be fewer
than the are at present.. And rabies
r. NsseaSa.a q f tina h.esr- -.aS,.
tilillE IL dcSira BILE that the sum
OF information among the people be
increased regarding dogs, both for the
purpose Of insuring greater safety to
the people and for the prevention uf
the slaughter Of Il great number Of
pets who do not merit death.
Let me tell you the SymtomS Of
rabies. There are two stages Of the
disease. In the first the dog is rest
less and uneasy He can't keep still.
lie shifts about from one place to
another, has a hacking cough and to-
ward the end of the first stage begins
to bite tltfully at the seat Of inocula-
lion, wherever it may be.
This stage lasts for from twenty
four to tEirty-SiX hours, during which
time the dog is absolutely harmless.
Any one who has been educated to
observe these symptoms can detect
rabies at once in the dog. | have
often thought that nature has made
This provision in order that sufficient
warning OF the approach of rabies may
be given before the dog becomes dan
gcrouS.
Well, it is only after the dog has
passed from the first to the second
stage of the disease that he becomes
dangerous. And even with regard to
the second, or violent stage, there is
great popular misconceptions.
a general rule to follow with re-
gard to all dogs is this: Always turn
out for dog that won't turn out for
you: If you follow that rule you will
be comparatively safe from any rabid
dog that comes your way.
When the dog passes into the sec
ond Stage Of rabies he becomes still
more restless. 1t is then that they
wander or. They do not go at a rapid
pace, they do not froth at the mouth,
their eyes do not become bloodshot.
Perhaps they hang their heads al
SICK dogs do thaG-and they ruiz until
they drop, from exhaustion, stopping
Oy Ills and starts to rest, but never
being able to rest long because the
nervous tension of the disease keeps
them going. If not intercepted and
killed they will finally fall dead. |
have seen them wear their toe nails
to the quick.
During this time they will bite
Things that come in their way. I'm
dcrStand that. But they will not 90
out OF their way TO attack anything.
Here is an illustration out of my
own experience. 1t happened right
here in Montclair. An inoiYcnsiye
looking dog sauntcred alonl: the street,
attracting no attention whatever In
appearance, to the unpracticcd eye,
he reScmblcd any other healthy dop.
~ little child got i'm it's way, and the
dog threw the child down and bit her.
~ crowd gathered, but no attempt
was made to stop the dog. No cry Of
mad dog was raised. 1 happened to
pass and stopped to make inquiries
and learned that the child had been
bitten. gotta description Of the ami
mai and started after him in my
wagon.
Half hour later nv attnntion vac