The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-07
The Dog and Hydrophobia

I llC Ivy dllQ
BY DIR. j. G.. FERNEYHOUGH,
state Veterinarian.
While have been studying the
symptoms, course and results OF tho
fatal disease. rabies, for the last ten
years, and have several times had to
differ with member OF the profess
sion OF veterinary science concerning
the same, yet not until the present
writing have I had anything to say
for the benefit OF the public concern
ing this subject. as I was very anxious
| to learn the best possible means OF
to check its spread in the country at
barge. before undertaking to advise
any definite course to be pursued.
However, l find that II wait until
know about this. or any other sub
express myself. that the expression
may, be top late. even Il it IS Of value.
Therefore, to my mind the time is
now ripe for me to do my duty to the
good people of Virginia, and. as their
State Veterinarian. give them the ben;
disease (Which is fatally infectious to
man and beast). which limited knowl-
edge is the result Of years OF hard
/ study and close observation.
i Never IN the past have I noticed
! as many authentic accounts Of cases
/ in the human family, in a given length
OF time: as have through the col .2.
sixty x the eay aa Jps sPe take aaF e
moment. into consideration the case
/ of DIR. VIM. n. Marsh, of New York.
This prominent gentleman was bitten
/ by a mad dog "a water spanieD. and
after several weeks Dr.. Marsh devel-
\ oped the dreaded disease, which is re-
lieved by death. and death only. after
] 1t makes It's appearance. or the first
/ Again. come nearer home and call to
mind the death of Mr.. James II. West,
of Asheville. N. G.; from the effects
latter he mad been bitten by a dog
4 suffering from hydrophobia. Allow me
to cite case of more vital import
ance to us than either Of the ap0ye.
4 since it happened In one of our vir-
4 ginta cities (RoanoKe) just a few
weeks ago. when an employe Of the
4 Norfolk and Western Railroad was
1 stricken with hydrophobia and died IN
'Igreat agony only few weeks after
4 he had been bitten by a rabid dog.
i which was running at large on the
streets OF that city.
The picture which is shown with this
article was taken under my direction,
and is that Of q collie suffering from
hydrophobia in Its acute stage; On last
i Tuesday evening I was at the stock
ed my attention to the nervous manner
4 In which his registered collie was act
Ting. Just it the moment we observed
the collie she seemed to become very
i excitable, and, Selling pointer puppy
In the yard, she bit 1t several times:
j and then darted off after Hound
I which was also on the lawn Mr. San
j dy and ut once called the collie to
I,,p x,,,I cd 1,nr in, n 1Ynr al
! there observed her carefully for q
) short while, when we We're both salts
! fled that she was developing hydropho-
Sa MGw Sea that eysnns {aS asR
/ Mr.. Sandy desired to destroy her as
soon as we decided that she had the
disease), but was left secured ip the
order that might have the opportu-
nifty of securing a picture of a dog
suffering with the disease. Just here ]
!, wish to say that there is no pleasure in
observing tho terrible expression Of
4the same, while the animal is snarling
\ from the effects OF the deadly poison.
Nevertheless, shall feel amply repaid
photograph, If the illustration may
only SERVE to enable some one to rec
ognize u case of hydrophohia In time
to prevent the affected animal from
running at large. and thus menaclng
4 the safety of the public,
In order that the features of the pho
tograph may be appreciated from a
! pathological, standpoint, I wish to
call special attention to the alert posi-
s ton of the dogs ears, as we'll as the
q partially open Npositlon of the mouth
It is indeeda pity. that the expression
of the eye cannot be seen in this pho.
tograph, rs 1t was one of the nlosi
, typical cases have ever seen. Again
a in the living animal every muscle was
q as tense as a tightly drawn cord, show.
q ing that she was ever ready to spring
at any object which. attracted her at.
tention; this being demonstrated wher
In. this case the elevated head, the
/ pricked ears, the dropping tail, are al
Ipeculiar.scharact eristics Of a, typica
+ case, of hydropllobia In the dog. 9
4 Besides MI. Sandy and myself, DIR
Young, a prominent physician who Is
IWell known In Southside Virginia. Mr.
81 DahalmornE and others also observed
this case. end no one for ono moment
g doubted Its being hydrOphobla.
History OF the Case,
Mr., Sandy Informs me that about two
months ngo one night he heard his
ii dogs fighting, and when he went out
to. see what the trouble was he founc
g little strange dog in the yard which
had succeeded in killing alls8of the
y young puppies Which belonged to the
collie ] have pictHred In this article
q dog before he would stop Nightingale
dogs on the place. Il Therefore wllel
this collie appeared to be- mad, Mr.
Y Sandy at once susplcloned the trouble
The d Or was not "a stroyed until yes,
n terday g tterre Q m w hem SHE was raging
\ and try ne her very hardest to, gnaW gu
CT the wire ennei course q