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.

HARMLESS IN FIRST STAGES.
"A Good Rule Is Always to Turn
out,tor n Dog that Won't
Turn Out ->for
The following article from the New
York Journal on mad dogs will be
read with interest by our readers:
'Ninety-nine out of a hundred peo-
pie don't know mad dog when they
see one. The very symptoms which
they believe indicate rabies arc the
surcst tests that-a dog is not mad"
DR. James NIcDonongh, of the
Watching Kennels, who invited the
school children of NIontclair, n. j., to
visit his dog sanitarium last Saturday
and observe from a safe place the ac-
tions Of dog in the second and final
stage or robes, made this statement:
In all. my experience" said the doc
tor, and | have been treating dogs
for fifteen years, ! have never seen a
mad dog ;froth at the mouth. On the
contrary, the mouth of dog that is
really rabid is dry and parchcd. Neither
have | eyer seen dog with rabies
rush about like tho dogs we read about,
with head lowered and eyes bloodshot,
snapping. and biting at everything
with which he comes in contact.
The real mad dog seldom attacks
unless he is interfercd with. l have
followed a mad dog over country
road ana seen him trOt by within two
inches of people who were quietly con
yersing, mot knowing that the animal
was mad.r
The sudden hot weather having re-
vivcd the fear Of mad dogs, an Amcri.
can reporter visited Mr.. McDonough
at his dog sanitarium in Montclair,
and asked him about the prevalence of
rabies and the manner in which the
danger may be avcrted.
DR.. McDonough smiled as he replied:
can speak only for NTontclair and
| am most positive that there is no
epidemic Of rabies here. don't be-
licve there is rabid dog in this town.
lave one dog here in my sanitarium
that am keeping under observation.
lie is very active and might bite you
if you got too close to him; but don't
believe he is mad.
There iSa great popular miScon-
ception on the question Of rabid dogs.
l firmly believe that if the public were
properly educated in the observance Of
dogs the cases Of rabies would be fewer
.thasnsstae y::ire at present. And rabies
Itsseaan!a asf ia ti..s J. 49,,
- .lIllllKlG!d desirable 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 IF
the slaughter OF a great number of
pets who do not merit death.
Let me tell you the symtomS Of
rabies. There are two stages or 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 Il hacking cough and to-
ward the end Of the first stage begins
to bite iitfully at the seat of inocula-
tion, wherever il may be.
This stage lasts for from twenty
four to thirty-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 thn dog becomes dan
gerOuS.
We'll, it is only after the dog has
passed from the first to the second
stage Of thc disease that he becomes
dangerous. And even with regard to
the second, or violent stage, there is
great popular misconception.
~ general rule TO follow with re-
gard to all dogs is this: Always turn
out for dog that wont turn out for
you: If you follow that rule you will
nc comparatively safe from any rabid
dog That comes yOnr 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 ut a rapid
pace, tlley do not froth nj the mouth,
their eyes do not become bloodshot.
Perhaps they hang their heads all
SICK dogs do that and they run until
they drop from exhaustion, stopping
by Its 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. l
have seen them wear their toe nails
to the quick.
During this time they will bite
things that come in their way. I'm
derStand that. But they will not go
out Of their way to attack anything.
'llerc is an illustration Out Of my
own experience. 1t happened right
here IN Montclair. An inoircnsive-
looking dog Sanntcrcd along the street,
attracting no attention whatever. In
appearance, to the nnpracticcd eye,
he rescmblcd any other healthy dog.
y little child got in its way, and the
dog threw the child down and bit her
a crowd gathered, hut no attcm pt
was made to stop The dog. No cry Of
mad dog was raised. | happened to
pass and stopped to make inquiries
and learned that the child had been
bitten. ! gotta description of the ami
maj and started after him in my
wagon.
Half hour later my attention was