The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-09-26
DOG WITH
RABIES
CAUGHT
Taken In Hand by Health Do.
partment Before Hs Made
TroubIo-Cat Bit Him.

New York, Sept. 26.--A case OF rabies
found in a dog In Brooklyn has furnish
ed the department. of health with proof
of the existence OF the disease. hitherto
doubted by some scientists. Guinea pigs
inoculated with serum from the spinal
cord of the affected animal have devel-
oped the disease and are now under OBJ
servation. One feature OF the case is that
the dog was discovered 10 have the dis
ease before the animal had opportunity to
do any harm.
The dog, a mongrel spaniel. belonged TO
q physician. Three weeks ago he was bit
ten by a cat he had engaged in a fight.
and In separating the animals the wife OF
the physician was bitten IN the hand by
the cat. She has as yet suffered no Ill
effects from the bite. but as the disease
may develop at any time from week
to a year after the virus enters the sys-
tenn, the physician, TO avoid frightening
his wife, desired that the authorities with
hold his name.
week after his fight with the cat the
dog, which had never been affectionate.
began to grow demonstrauve.
At other times the dog would sulk in a
corner or under the bed or chair. When
he began to dash up and down the stairs,
giving a peculiar cry. the physician decid-
ed that II was not safe TO have him in
the house and took him to the Long ISL
and Veterinary hospital. 2S5 Jay street.
DR.. William J. Finn diagnosed the dog $
disease as rabies. and his opinion was
confirmed by DIR. Robert NJ Mulings.
The dog was confined in n heavily bar
red box stall where he could be observed
Very soon he was AFFLICTED with a spasm
He moved In straight lines and at the
sight OF any object would make a furious
dash for IT. swapping and yelping.
ENDED HIS SUFFERINGs.
bucket Of water was lowered into
the stah. The dog knocked II across
the stall, overturning II. and for almost
an hour he kept up an attack on the
bucket until It was battered and chewed
out OF shape. Then he attacked the iron
bars OF the stall and the two-inch floor
ing
Drs. Finn and Mulhngs watched him
constantly for 80 hours. making notes OF
the progress OF the disease. until I'm pity
for his sufferings they decided to XIII
him.
ment OF health and under the direction
OF Or. Roberts the brains and spinal
cord OF the animal were removed and
brought to headquarters I'm New York
They were sent to Research laboratory
on Sixteenth street for experiments.
several guinea pigs were inoculated on
different days and those first experiment
ed on have fully developed cases of rabies
while the others are in various stages OF
the disease.
DR. Roberts said yesterday that while
the experiments are still I'm progress.
there has been enough done to prove
conclusively that the dog was a victim
81 true rabies.
DR. MulIngs. who examined the dog
xrh =
does not believe II certain that the cats
bite inocuiated the dog with the virus OF
rabies. The disease develops spon-
taneously. dangerous characteristic. as
II may escape detection until the animal
has bitten some persons or other animal.
DR. Mullings thinks this might have
been spontaneous case.
A horse was bitten in BROOKLYN Wed
nesday by dog and has been sent 10
the hospital for examination.