The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1911-08-18

Rabies, known also by the names
Hydrophobia. Lyssa and Wasserscheu
is becoming m,re prevalent every
year and is causing considerable loss
financially to the rancher 10 his Hocks
and herds, says Karl Theige, assis
tant bacteriologist Of the University
OF Idaho experiment station.
The disease is mnst frequently
found In CANNES; dogs. wolves and
foxes, but domestic ANIMALS and even
man are susceptible to its onslaught.
The d s ase is due to virus, as
ISOLATED with aud found In the saliva
Of an infected animal, carried from
one individual to another through
biting. The exact nature OF the
principle Is not known, nor
has the virus ever been isolated, tut
has shown that it
is specific In its actions. that II can
be used for producing 10 healthy
animals by incubation, the disease.
whose symptoms and termination are
precisely identical with those pro-
duced by natural incubation. These
facts have made 1t possible to perfect
an absolute cure for or an infallible
measure against rabies.
There are many factors that have a
bearing on the course that the disease
may take ia the bitten animal or
person, depending on the greater o:
lesser virnlence Of the virus; upon the
extent Of the wound; upon the dis
lance from the central nervous sys.
tenn; upon the degree Of vascularity
aud upon the nerve supply Of the tbs.
sue at the point Of entrance.
Heavy fur. wool or clothing tend TO
prevent the saliva from entering the
tissue and often prevent infection,
while bites on the head, face or other
exposed parts are very much more
liable to take serious course.
From the time the animal or person
Is bitten and until any signs or symp-
toms mike themselves manifest is
what Is known as the period Of in
cubaLion. This period of time Is
variable for all species OF auimals,
and even for individuals OF the same
species. About 40 per cent of all
dogs bitten develop manifest symp-
toms within 30 days. In cattle
about 30 per cent snow symptoms be-
tween 30 and As days. In man the
average period OF cubation is from
8 to II weeks.
Not all animals or persons exposed
to the bites of dogs contract the
disease. Statistics show that about
10 to Is per cent Of people and 40 per
cent OF dogs bitten develop the dis.
ease. or those bitten by wolves,
about so per cent contract the dis
ease. The probable cause of this
difference may be due to greater
OF the saliva and to
more severe decorations.
Two types Ut rabies are known.
Furious aud Dumb, and each have
their series OF symptoms. An ami.
NAL with the furious type Is nervou,
and very easily excited, later becomes
very irritable and may snap II ap.
preached. The bark becomes
1rawn.out howl or whine. Foreign
objects are taken 10, such as pebbles.
straw, leather and sticks. Az the
disease progresses the irrltability in
creases and paralysis sets 10. The
lower jaw hangs down and saliva
1ribbles from the mouth. AT this
stage the animal is liable to leave
home and sc0ur the neighborhood
and will bite at any object or animal
Or person that happen in its course
extreme nervous excite.
ment and general paralysis soon end
its career.
The dumb type is characterized by
az early appearance Of the paralysis
and a manifest lack OF such excite
ment aud irrltability as is noted In
the furious type. Many OF the M re
peaceful symptoms of the former type
however are present In the dumb type.
1t should be needless to say that all
dogs, and especially at this season OF
the year, that show signs or symp.
toms OF rabies ought to he killed at
once and burned.
1t is known that saliva from dogs
that are in the early stages of rabies
aud as yet show no symptoms If the
has the morbiflc prlnciple
present and that it has produced
rabies entirely accidental, through
abrasions in the skin.