Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-02-10

Rabies is a disease more common TO
dogs than any other animal, although
all warm-blooded animals, including
man, are susceptible to the malady
which is usually communicated through
bites from AFFLICTED animals.
While this disease has been known
for centuries and has been feared and
dreaded, very little is known as to its
origin. All experience, both SCIENTIFIC
and pratical, goes to show that rabies
is transmitted only by animals that
are actually diseased at the time the
bite Ia inflicted
1t is an infectious disease involv-
Ing the nervous system and character
lied by extreme excitement and other
nervous disorders, and always terminal
ing in death.
In dogs both furious and dumb rabies
are met with, the former being more
common in cattle. However, a sharp
line of distinction cannot be drawn
between these two forms of the dis
ease as the furious form usually
merges into the dumb, due to the par
alysis which always appears prior to
death.
A typical case Of dumb rabies is
where paralysis appears at the begin
ming of the attack and remains until
the death of the animal The disease
petite and rumination, and stopping OF
the secretion of milk, great restless
ness, anxiety, manifestation of fear
and change in the disposition of the
animal This preliminary or quiet stage
is followed in a day or two by the
stage of excitement, or madness, which
is indicated by increased restlessness
loud roaring at times, with a change
in the sound of the voice. which is due
to partial paralysis of the muscles
of the throat, violent butting and paw
ing the ground with the feet with ar
insane tendency to attack people or an
imals. although their desire to bite is
not so marked in cattle as in the ca
nine race. A constant symptom is the
increased secretion of saliva with g
consequent frothing at the mouth, OF
the secretion may hang from the lips
in long strings Constipation is marked
and there is manifested a continual, al.
though unsuccessful desire to defectate
Spasms i'm the muscles in the different
parts of the body are also seen at In.
tervals.
About the fourth day the animal us,.-
ally becomes quieter and the walk stiff
and unsteady, showing that the inal
paralysis is coming on. This is call
ed the paralytic stage. The loss OF
flesh is extremely rapid and even dur
ing the short course OF the disease the
animal becomes exceedingly emaciat-
ed. The temperature is never elevated
but usually remains about normal. Fin
ally there is a complete paralysis of the
hind quarters, the animal being unable
to rise and but for irregular convulsive
movements lies in a cOmatose condi-
ton, and dies usually from the fourth
to the sixth day after the appearance
of the first symphony
While acting in the capacity of Wis
consin state veterinarian, the writer has
many times been called to observe
herds thus afflicted. only to find that
eight or ten head had died and that
many more were afflicted with the dis
ease, which necessitated shooting
them to put them out of their intense
agony and pain. Rabies in cattle Is
an incurable disease and should prompt
the owner to destroy all animals thus
AFFLICTED to prevent its spread.
DIR. DAVID ROBERTS.