Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-06-09
MAD DOG DANGERS
oTTUMwA is INFESTED WITH
HUNDREDS OF WORTHLESS
CANNES.
Hot Days of Summer Popularity Be-
Iieved to Be Especially Dangerous
Pasteur Treatment for Those Who
Are Bitten by Dogs.

\ PaSteur reatmeht TOT inose WIN
Are Bitten by Dogs.
Mad dogs are popularity believed to
exist in far greater numbers in sum-
mer than during winter and this is to
a great extent true. Ottumwa has been
without dog catcher for long time
and the city is full of dogs, dogs of
all classes and descriptions. The hot
days Of summer are near at mana ana
it behooves the citizens to exercise |
caution.
The cry "mad dog" is we'll calculat-
ed to strike terror into the bravest
heart. Not however that all dogs thus
heralded are really mad" There are
doubtless many dogs regarded as such,
and destroyed because suspected OF be-
ing rabid. The warmer days are coming
and people who regard hot weather,
dog days." as essentially associated
with hydrophobia may be easily inter-
ested in preventive measures. They
have yet to learn that this disease is
not influenced by meteorological con-
ditions-that the disease may prevail
in January as well as in July. The
following issued by the Chicago health
department will be found interesting
on this point:
A number of rabid dogs having been
killed within the last few weeks, the
department advises that the public
should appreciate the Importance of
securing dog that has bitten anyone
and keeping him alive until it is posi-
lively known whether or not he is
suffering from rabies. Post mortem
examinations or animal incubation do
not always demonstrate the presence
Of rabies, especially in it's early stages.
1t is best to secure the dog and watch
him for few days. If he has rabies
he will usually die within a week or so.
1t is easy then to state positively that
the disease is rabies or not. In New
York law passed in 1902 requires all
dogs that appear to be suffering from
rabies, or that have bitten anyone, to
be kept under observation for ten
days. There should be such law in
this state, or at least an ordinance to
the same effect for Chicago.
If one is bitten by a dog, whether
the animal is known to be rabid or not,
the Pasteur treatment should be be-
gun Immediately, because although
symptoms may develop in three or
four days, six weeks is the usual time.
If the dog does not die of rabies with
in ten days it will not be necessary to
continue and no harm will have been
done, because this treatment is abso-
lutely harmless. The present law re-
quiring the muzzling of all dogs, dur
ing the entire year. Is one that should
10 ,t,,; at1 p nnfnrnni a SonWJ1 INV tho
English success in eXterminating rab-
les and by the Berlin experience No
case of rabies has been known in the
Germ an capital since 1878, when law
was passed requiring the compulsory
muzzling of all dogs during the en-
tire year. This was done because eX-
perience showed that the decrease of
danger during the winter months was
not sufficient to warrant a relaxation
of the law. since January furnished as
many cases of rabies among animals
as August.
AS comparatively few persons have
an opportunity of becoming familiar
with the symptoms Of rabies, the fol-
lowing suggestions from the Bulletin
of April II, 1908, NAV be useful:
Beware of dog when it becomes
dull and hides away; appears restless;
always on the move and proWling;
whose countenance is somber and sui
len; walks with head down like bear.
Beware of one that barks at nothing
when all around is still. Beware of
dog that scrapes necessarily and
tears up things. Look out for the dog
which has become too fond of you,
and is continually trying to lick your
hands and face. Beware, above all, OF
the dog which has difficulty in swallow
ing. which appears to have bone in
| it's throat, and one that has wandered
from home and returns covered with
dirt, exhausted and miserable"
Quite recently veterinary surgeon
| in a French town having mad dog
under observation sent for the chill
dren of the schools to come and in
spect it. He did this to combat the
general idea that a dog is not mad un.
less he is foaming at the mouth, etc
The children found this animal lying
quietly iii his cage, Its mouth and
! tongue merely parched and feverish
case of rabies.
Finally the dog, whether rabid or
sane, has no place in the city. He is
a detiler of sidewalks, disturber OF
slumber dissemination of other dis.
eases than rabies. But, if allowed in
the city at ALL he should at least be
kept muzzled. Too many caninophiles
seem to agree with Charles Lambs so
licitude over the condition of Mrs Pat
more's dog Dash" They are more
concerned about their pets than about
those they may bite. "You cannot be
| too careful" writes the gentle Ella
HAS he bit any of the children yet!
| If he has, have him shot, and keeI
him for curiosity, to see if it was the
hydrophobia.