Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-12-19

Hy0rOrn0Cta Is one OF lnc UAuSN
Bile diseases which affects domestic ami
mails. and as a result man himself Some
skepticism has existed with reference to
the prevalence OF rabies for many years,
but patient, scientific research has led
investigators 10 a clear understanding
Of the nature and character OF this dis
ease There is much OF II in Georgia;
IN fact. one can scarcely pick up paper
without reading an account OF where sew
erai persons have been bitten BY mad
dog. and are therefore likely 10 develop
hydrophobia unless promptly subjected
to the Pasteur treatment There is no
danger from being bitten by dog In a
normal state Of health. as some people
seem TO imagine. but where the animal
has gone mad the danger OF hydrophooia
following is very great indeed. There is
no truth IN the belief that this Is
spontaneous trouble or the product of
certain seasons OF the year when the
weather may be unusually warm and OPP
pressive Hydrophobia may be reproduced
by .aoculating susceptible animals with
erlulsions OF the brain or spinal cord. or
with saliva. milk or other secretions of
the body. The blood OF mad dogs seems
10 be free from the virus. which however,
IS contained in the saliva and is intro
duced under the skin Of the animal or
person attacked by the oooth of the raeid
animal.
Next to dogs cattle see INTO be most
frequently affected with hydrophobia-
Every person bitten does not necessarily
develop the disease. but II is conserva-
lively estimated that at least Is per cent
o fthe human beings attacked succumb to
a. In dogs the per cent varies from 50
to As: In horses and hogs from IS to 70,
and in cattle from Is to 90 per cent. The
length of time the virus may remain la
tent after being introduced into the body
varies from Il TO IS. days; thus several
months may elapse after the bite is
inflicted before the symptoms Of the
disease develop.
Rabies has been demonstrated to be
specific infectious disease attacking the
nervous system and causing extreme ex-
citability. The specific organism causing
Il has never been located as yet; but
enough is known TO establish its existence
beyond question OF successful controver-
81. There are two types Of the disease.
known as furious or violent and dumb
or paraIytic. In dogs wh$t is known as
furious rabies IS quite commonly met
with. The disease incubates in from three
weeks TO three months Dogs are af-
fected variously but there is an irresist-
able tendency 20 roam about; If restrained
they frequently become vicious, and
there is evidence Of depraved appetite
In endeavoring to eat all kind OF indigest-
fble materials. There is frequently
frothing ana foaming at the mouth. and
while a mad dog may not willfully at
tack persons. ne Is apparently afraid OF
nothing. There is often a Grange in the
voice or character of the bark As the
disease develops the animal may become
paralyzed. and take on the form known
as dumb rabies This latter form is much
more common than the rabid form. the
tendency Of the dog developing this type
OF the trouble being to hide himself in a
secluded place. Probably the first evil
dence on the part Of tn eOwner that the
dog has rabies will be found in the pa
ralysis of the low jaw. Post-mortem ex-
aminations generally show in the stomach
unusual quantities OF stone, wood. earth
and other materials. There IS a marked
reddenfng Of the folds. OF the stomach.
and frequently inflamn.auon OF the COW
erfnx OF the brain. as well as the spinal
cord and mucous lining Of the throat and
respiratory organs
OF late there seems to be a percepu-
bic increase in the prevalence or rabies
or hydrophobia. and on this account II
seems important that public attention
should be called to this matter, and
every effort made to counterfeit It's
spread IN the fiscal year 1909 the bureau
OF animal industry OF the United States
department OF agriculture identified
over 100 cases OF rabies. OF these %
came from the District of Columbia, and
s. from Virginia, West Virginia, Mary
land and South Carolina. In Wisconsin
the state veterinarian estimates that So
animals died OF the disease in 1905, and
according to Kerr & Stimson. of the
United States Public Health and Marine
Hospital service. there were 1,l67 cases
A. "A fw, n -
laboratories throughout the United
States. Undoubtedly these represent
only proportion OF the actual cases
which occurred These figures would
Indicate that the trouble is widespread
and tending 10 increase rapidly, and
that precautionary measures for its con-
troll and eradication should be taken I'M
der advisement Immediately. The same
relative increase in the occurrence Of
the disease is shown in many foreign
countries as well. so that the trouble is
not confined at all to the United States.
The prevention Of this trouble can best
be brought about by the establishment
OF sanitary regulations which control
or exterminate the disease among dogs.
There is no communicable disease which
Is more easily eradicated than hydro
phobia, the injection being chiefly trans
Missile through a bite Animals that
are attacked, therefore, should either be
destroyed or placed under quarantine
until the period OF incubation for the
disease is passed A state tax on dogs
will also have a salutary effect on de-
creasing the number Of vagrant and
homeless animals. II all animals. there
fore. which are not properly licensed
and tagged are destroyed, and muzzling
be resorted to. there is no reason why
the disease should not be brought under
control In a comparatively short time.
In England the muzzIing law has been
In effect for some time. and the re-
suits have been most gratifying There
are those who have advocated, there
fore. the enactment OF a national dog
muzzling law. and. in fact. rabies be-