Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-06-02
#liseellanspus Reading.
GET RID OF MAD DOGS.

GET RID OF MAD DOGS.
Muzzlng of All Dogs Would Stamp
Out Rabies.
washington, May 29.-"Rabies, or
hydrophobia, is known to be one Of
the most terrible diseases that affiicts
humanity. Wherever 1t is prevalent
it causes constantly increasing ankle
ty, suffering and death to man and
beast, not to mention the financial
loss, and these penalties are exacted
notwithstanding the alleviation offer
ed by the Pasteur treatment"
This is the statement made by Geo.
H. Hart, V. NJ. D., assistant In pathol-
ogy and bacteriology in the depart
ment of agriculture. The question
has recently been brought directly to
his attention through the case of DR..
Marsh, of Brooklyn, who contracted
hydrophobia, suffered agonies while
the deadly convulsions were on him
and finally after undergoing untold
tortures, succumbed to the disease.
1.-The enormous value Of the Pas
teur treatment" continues Mr.. Hart,
"as a preventive agent is unques-
toned, and, while its effectiveness Is
extremely high when taken in time
the actual figures from number OF
Pasteur Institutes in different parts
ha hnp
have ranged from 0.1S to 1.5S per
cent. 1t must be remembered also
that for a number Of reasons a large
proportion Of the persons and almost
all of the animals that have received
the virus through the bites do not
undergo the treatment. All that Is
required to rid us of this scourge Is
the muzzing of all dogs for few
years. This has been amply proved
by the experience Of several European
countries. where the disease has been
stamped out in this manner"
Until recently it was considered
that the dogs saliva became virulent
three days before the appearance OF
the symptoms Of rabies. According
to some recent experiments it has
been found that the saliva may be-
come virulent six or seven or eight
days before the symptoms develop.
Therefore in case the animal remains
healthy for ten days after it has Bit
ten the person or animal, no danger
need be apprehended from that bite,
even though the dog develop rabies
within the next few weeks.
The curative value of the maidstone
is still devoutly believed in by a great
many people. Within the last few
years a maidstone was forwarded to
the department of agriculture, the
owner stating that it had prevented
several cases of rabies, and he was
anxious for 1t to be tried by the de-
partment. Some Of these madstones,
properly called hair balls are obtain
ed from the stomachs Of various wild
animals and domestic animals. They
are in some cases composed OF mat
ted hair, which the animal has licked
the majority Of cases they consist OF
masses Of vegetable fibre, such as the
awns of clover and beard Of grain,
which have gradually collected over
considerable period Of time and are
formed into a spherical shape by the
contraction Of the gastric walls. Gall
stones, intestinal calculi and In fact
many porous stones may be used as
madstones.
After a person has been bitten the
maidstone Is applied to the. wound,
and it is believed that the longer 1t
adheres the more certain 1t is OF pre-
venting the disease. Whether 1t Will
stick or not depends entirely on the
amount of hemorrhage or discharge
from the wound. Where this Is pro-
fuse the blood infiltrates the meshes
of the maidstone, soon coagulates or
dries, and tends to hold 1t in place.
and il adheres for considerable
time under such circumstances. On
the other hand, where the wound IS
small and the discharge slight, there
is nothing to hold the stone In place
and it Immediately falls off. Certain
of these madstones have been held in
families for three or four generations
and are guarded as carefully as a pre-
cious heirloom. It's specific value
against rabies is no greater than that
of a piece Of blotting paper applied
in the same manner.
The difference between human be-
ings and dogs suffering from hydro
phobia Is that the former cannot Dear
the sight of water, while dogs will
often attempt to drink until the throat
has become entirely paralyzed.
Mr.. Hart and other experts on hy-
drophobia state that many persons
are often mistaken in regard to the
color of a dogs mouth, sometimes be-
lieving that because the animals
mouth is black it is sure to be infect
ed. This is erroneous. for the reason
that in some sections of the country
there is a dog disease known as
black tongue"
There are half a dozen symptoms
by any one of which the ordinary
person may generally be able to tell
when a dog is suffering from rabies
and these are: /. Change in disposi-
ton; 9, alteration of voice; 3. inabil-
ity to swallow; 4, leaving home and
returning home in an exhausted and
emaciated condition; 5, paralysis or
the jaw: 6, swallowing abnormal sub
stances, such as small stones, sticks,
etc.
To protect persons from terrors OF
hydrophobia Mr.. Hart says there Is
only one certain way, and that Is to
muzzle the dogs before the damage
is done and keep them muzzled.
III, WaHar,uauc