The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-05-18
HYDROPHOBIA FAKES
Mad Dog Scares Fomented by Hysterical Persons and Grave Evils Result.

MaO QO& SCdTcS IeCur W1Ln O6- gree of regularity suggesting delib- crate promotion By some singular process the public has been led to believe that hydrophobia is a most common malady, when all authorities agree that 1t is quite the most un- common disease known to science. The vital statistics of the city of Philadelphia, covering a period of more than twenty years, do not show a single death from hydrophobia, and thousands of active medical practition- CTS have gone to their graves after many years of active practice without having ever seen a case of hydropho- bia.
 Without discussing the merits or de- merits of the Pasteur treatment for hydrophobia. it is important to en- phasize the fact that the records of the Pasteur Institute prove that less than 15 per cent of those treated by the method required any care beyond the usual dressings for an open wound. ~
 It is of vast importance that all persons should know that a dog bite is not of necessity a serious injury, however painful it may be.
 It is very important that all persons should know that hydrophobia is ex- ceedingly rare, and therefore little to be feared from an ordinary dog bite.
 It is well to keep in mind the fact that all dogs running amuck in the summer season are not afflicted with rabies, and that the state of mind of the person bitten has much to do with the success of the subsequent treat ment.
 Authorities worthy of consideration disagree as to the best method of final treatment, but. all concede that the first thing to do is to clean the fC r,nf of O accomplish this early treatment any where and at any time, as nothing is required but clean cotton cloths and hot water until a physician ar rives and assumes responsibility for the after-treatment.
 There is no occasion for excitement. There is but a very remote chance of serious complications. The patient need not anticipate the worst by wor- ry. In eighty-f1ve cases out of one hundred the wound resulting from a dog bite is no worse or more painful than a wound of the same size in the same location caused by any other agency. There is more real peril in the mental attitude of the patient than in the physical aspect of the wound.
 A cheap and most effective cure for hydrophobia has been perfected by pr. Buisson The Buisson vapor- bath treatment is free in England and in all the colonies where it has been established by the Grown, and it can be most successfully given in any home with but small expense. No special or costly apparatus is re- uuired. A foot-bath, a cane-seated chair and an oil stove or spirit lamp is about all the equipment required, in addition to a number of blankets and ice water for the cold towels to be applied to the head. An ordinary or box bath is the ideal ap- paratus but the makeshift proposed will answer very well, as there is nothing to the treatment but pro- cess of sweating.
 Tn the course of treatment following it will be noticed that the use of box or cabinet bath is assumed.
 The head should be we'll bathed with warm water before getting into the box. Assuming the patient seated on the chair with the feet in hot water, a cold wet cloth should be placed fre- ouently on the head. The duration of the sweating process may extend to an almost unlimited time; generally from twenty to forty minutes are suf- f1cient and during this time the pa tient should be supplied freely with cold water to drink.
 Regarding temperature and duration of the bath the most rational mode is to give as much heat as can be borne, and to keep the patient sweating profusely, but un- der no circumstances should he be given a higher temperature than 130 degrees Farenheit in vapor; that is with the head exposed and breathing the ordinary air. A bath of thirty or forty minutes would be attended with greater benefit than say, for twenty minutes; that is, if the pa tient can bear it without any ner- vous upset. After the sweating there should be a cool or warm ablution as the patient can best bear.
 The frequency of the bath entirely depends upon the period of time that has elapsed after the supposed infec- ton from a bite. or symptoms of hy- drophobia developing. If the patient