Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-10-30

IdTHy. IL DeCOIneS more ana more ute-
perate in its efforts to prepare a COM
Portable bed. paving or scattering the
straw. or If in the house. scratching or
tearing cushions. ETC.. within its reach.
At this period. dogs may have aberra-
tons Of the senses Of sight. hearing and
feeling which cause hallucinations. and
lead them to think that they are being
annoyed by something. or that same ami
NAL or person is endeayoring to njure
them. They crouch. ready to spring upon
an enemy. they rush forward and snap
at the air. they throw themselves. howl
ing and furious against wall as though
they heard sounds beyond 1t.
While at first the affected dog may not
be disposed to bite. it becomes more
dangerous as his hallucinations and delir-
ium increase. Call of master or acquain-
tance may dispel the alterations tempo
rarily and lead him to friendly demon
strations. but an unexpected movement.
or touch. may bring on another aeess
and lead TO quick and unexpected bite.
Such animals take food until the disease
is considerably advanced. Difficulty Of
swallowing is an early symptom and fire.
|
conclude that the animal has bone in
its throat. A dog which appears to have
bone in its throat is on general princi-
pies one Of the most dangerous animals
| in existence.
It is commonly believed that mad dogs
have fear OF water and are unable to
drink. but there could be no greater mis-
take. In this respect they differ entirely
from the human patient. They have no
| fear or dread OF water. but continue 10
drink until paralysis has progressed SO
far that they are no longer able to swal-
low. The fact that a suspected dog is
| seen TO drink or wade into a 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.
He trots at rapid pace. eye haggard.
tail depressed. Indifferent 10 his surround
ings. He flies at and bites dogs and per-
sons whom he meets. but usually does
not apparently search for them or even
notice them. II they remain quiet. Dogs
in this condition may travel many miles
and finally drop from exhaustion and die.
Bouley has most earnestly warned US:
''Dis,rust dog whom IL shows signs OF
illness; every sick dog should as rule
DO suspected. moro particularly dis,rust
dog when Il becomes dull. morose. and
seeks for solitude which appears not to
know where to rest. which Is always on
tho move. prowling. swapping in the air,
and suddenly barking a; nothing. when
all around is perfectly still. whose eoun-
;enanee is sombre. and only assumes It's
usual animated expression by brief starts:
beware Of tho nog tha, seeks and serapes
mon;s against panihoms. and finally be-
ware above all o! tho dog which has be-
come too fond Of you and Is continually
ondoasoring To lick tho hands or face"
Tho period o! Incubation Of contagious
disease Is tho time which olapscs between
tho incubation or exposure and tho ap-
pearanea Of tho first symptoms. With
rabies this period varies remarkably. I; |
may DO ss shof; as SIX or seven days.
and Il occasionally exceeds ono hundred.
In rafe cases year or even fourteen
mon;hs olapses between tho ,ime the
time tho animal Is bitten and tho time
when tho disease manites,s i,self. In
nos; cases Il develops in from three To
seven weeks. During tho greater part Of
tho period Of incubation tho infected AMI
NAL is healthy and would no; cause
disease IN any animal or person bitten
after tho eon;agion has contaminated tho
saliva. Of course. ts liable TO eon,rae. the