The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1911-08-12
Rabies or Hydrophobia

NdotCS W VydfOptlobto
Whenever a person has been bitten
by dog the first thought is and ought
to be the possibility Of rabies. Because
Of. an old superstition 1t has become
common practice to have the dog inn
mediately put to death. Whenever the
animal is suspected OF having rabies,
this procedure is highly tallacIous and
cannot be too strongly condemned, as
it often makes the positive determine
tion OF whether or not the dog had the
disease impossible Rabies can only
be communicated by animals affected
with rabies and only short time be-
fore the appearance OF symptoms. The
dog should be tied or locked up and
closely watched. If symptoms do not
appear in the suspected animal within
week. the wound has not been inocu-
lated with the virus OF rabies. IL the
dog dies within the period mentioned.
the brain, or better, the entire head,
should be Immediately removed pack
ed in ice to prevent decomposition, and
sent TO the Pasteur Institute at Ann
Arbor. Michigan, for examination, an
If the supsicion is confirmed by labor
atory findings and the diagnosis is
positive. the individual who was bitten
should without further delay be given
the Pasteur treatment.
While the number of deaths from
rabies occupies no conspicuous place
on the mortality tables of our state,
the horror of the disease. It's inevitable
fatality and its gruesome termination
makes it one of the most dreaded in
fections known to man.
Nearly all animals are suspectible to
rabies. About so per cent of the cases
occur in dogs, about 10 per cent in cat
tie. Wolves. skunks. cats and other
mammals are occasionally infected.
The contagious virus is present in the
nerve tissue Of infected animals and is
most often communicated through the
saliva. The bite OF "a rabie animal
brings the contagious saliva with the
nerve tihres, through which il travels
to the cells of the brain and spinal
cord. The period between infection
and the appearance Of the first symp-
toms of rabies varies FROM "A few weeks
to several months. and during this per
iod Pasteur's treatment may be given
and the disease prevented.
Over 30 per cent of all cases OF rabies
results from being bitten by dogs. 1t
is therefore OF highest Importance that
the muzzling Of dogs be enforced. In
Great Britain the number or cases of
rabies in 1889 was 3l2, at which time
muzzling began to be enforced. In
1892 the number OF cases had been re-
duced 10 3s and the muzzling ordin-
ance which had met with great deal
OF opposition was relaxed. After this
the number of cases rapidly increased
TO 672 in 1892, after which nuZzling
was again enforced and the number or
cases was reduced to Lone in 1900. Let
us profit by the experience of Great
Britain and remove this terrible affiic-
ton from our midst When animals
cannot bite they cannot communicate
the disease and the contagion of rabies
will die with the dying of the last in
fected. MANY Of the contrivances sold
as muzzles are Lot effective and are
simply attempts TO evade the law. In
a town where muzzling order is in
force unless dog wears an efficient
muzzle. one that prevents the dog from
biting. he should be looked upon in
the same light as dog that does not
wear one.
Very truly yours,
Robert L. Dixon. Nj. d.,