The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-10-18
DEATH FROM RABIES
STIRS THE EXPERTS
Scientists Declare MuZZling
Law Should Be Extend
ed for Six Months.
DIR. MOHLER FEARS
SIMILAR CASE HERE
Pathological Expert Says There Is
No Dog Days" Season-Dan-
ger in Winter, Too.

No Dog Days" SeasOn-Dan-
ger in Winter, Too.
Aroused by the death of the young
cOlored boy, Thomas Brown, in Alex
andria, with a well-dehned and typical
case OF hydrophobia on Thursday night
many Of the rabies experts and others
are demanding a stricter enforcement
of the District muzzling law, and an eX-
tension of 3ts provisions beyond the
original six months limit, which is
about 20 expire.
The death of Brown proves conclu-
sively. contend the experts, that there
is such a disease as malignant hydro
phobia, and that it can be transmitted
from beast 70 man by the slightest CON
tact under certain conditions
1t is also pointed out that the two
dogs responsible for the death OF the
lad were pets. which again Tears out the
contention of the surgeons that the
greatest danger cores from the dogs
that are permitted to roam about the
premises without muzzIes.
Mohler Expresses Fears.
DR.. John r. Mohler, chief Of the path
illogical division OF the Bureau Of Ami
NAL Industry Of the Department of Ag-
riculture, upon whose statement and
judgment the President largely relied
in directing the District Commissioners
to prOmulgate the dog muzzling regula-
tons in a statement made TO The Times
last night, expressed grave fear of
similar fate overtal1ing some resident
Of Washington unless the Commission
ers should see fit TO enforce the muzzIing
law 10 the fullest extent
I'VE should not be surprised at any
time 10 learn Of such case in this
city" said DR.. MohIer, IF we take into
cOnsidera ton that during the month OF
September eleven dogs were found to be
affected with rabies in the District. and
that out Of fOrty-nine dogs recently
counted in the city. thirty-seven were
found unmuzZled and unrestrained. Nor
can we expect the complete stamping
out Of rabies IN the District until the
Commissioners will see fit 70 enforce the
muzzling law to the fullest extent"
Speaking of the Brown case in partic-
ular. Dr. NIOhler said that one more
victim of rabies, the result of a dog
bite. had been added to the list of
deaths in our immediate vicinity.
Bitten on Foot.
THE boy had been bitten on the foot
by a dog; just an unsupported, Unmuz-
zied dog" said DR.. Mohler IN reviewing
the case. THE animal was killed, bU.
not examined for rabies. and the incl
dent forgotten until several weeks later
the boy became so ill as 10 require the
services Of a physician. Even then the
possibility Of rabies was not suspected,
and local treatment produced temporary
improvement. while the disease was in
the stage of incubation. When the dis
ease advanced sufficiently to be dag
nosed cllnically, 1t was TOO late to save
the patient"
DR.. John T. Anderson and Dr- Joseph
Goldberger. Of the hygienic laboratory
OF the United States Public Health and
Marine Hospital Service, who we're
called into consultation on the case.
talked freely about it last night, and
both expressed themselves fOrCefUJy as
to the lesson 10 be learned from tho
horrible death Of the young boy.
There was nothing that could be done
for the young fellow" said DR.. Ander-
son, except to administer such rene
dies as would tend to ease his pam.
Practically no one who develops the dis
ease ever RECEIVERS.
May Develop Slowly.
The symptoms in man develop from
fifteen days to six months after inocu-
latIon. as by the bite of mad dog,
cat, wolf, or fox. At first there may be
tingling and itching in the scar Of the
wound, and the patient becomes de-
pressed, apprehensive, and restless.
After a day or two he becomes excited,
I.TFrf1r,e
difficulty in swallowing liquids and food.
At the same time there may develop, as
in this boy, free flow of saliva which,
on account of the difficulty in swallow
ing, pours from the mouth or is vio-
Ienty elected. The tempera ture rises
the pulse and heart beat become fast
and feeble and from time to time the
patient is seized with spasms or con-
WILSON'S which exhaust him, and lead
to a fatal termination. The mind is fire.
ouently clear TO the end, and the pa
tient, II old enough, may have & clear
understanding Of the fatal outcome OF
his Illness"
No "Dog Days" Season.
1T is a popular fallacy," said DR..
Goldberger, who corroborated what DR..
Anderson had just said. that the rabies
are more prevalent in the warm wealth
er months than in the cold This is not
true, no particular season showing any
particular lead over another in this re-
spect.
For this reason, I deem II Of great
Importance that the District muzzling
law be continued in force until the city
is made free Of the dread disease.
In all cases of rabies, or hydropho-
bia, the patient dies as a rule within a
week after the symptoms begin to mani
fest themselves. In this case the boy
died within four days.
The dog responsible for the trouble
was a family pet. and died within a
week after biting the boy, meanwhile
biting a neighbours dog. that died three
weeks later
The boy was taken sick Monday
morning. and rapidly developed the
characteristic symptoms OF hydropho-
bia, and died on Thursday evening. He
was attended by his family physician,
DT. Penn, whose diagnosis of the case
was later confirmed by both DR.. Ander-
son and myself.
AUTOPSY Impossible.