The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-17
HOW HYDROPHOB|A GETS IN ITS WORK Dr. MOhler Writes on This
 Vital Subject
 CAUSES FOR ALARM How To Tell a Mad Dog-How
How To Tell Mad Dog-How Rabies Is Communicated. Length of Time Necessary
 for Symptoms To Appear


 drophobia has just been issued by the federal department of agriculture, which will prove of special interest in Bir- mingham just at this time The bulletin Is
 written by pr. John R. Moher, chief of | the pathological division, bureau of ami maj industry
 Dr. Mohler begins by saying that skep- | ticism with reference to the existence and 1 prevalence of rabies in animals, or hydro phobia in man. strange as 1t may seem, 1 Is still entertained by a few prominent | professional men. This in spite of the
 fact that the abest scientists have re- peatedly shown by their experiments that l ra bies is a specific, communicable dis
 ease, pre-eminently affecting the canine 1 race, Although all warm booded animals,
 including man. are susceptible to it. | Stating that the disease was known and | described several centuries prior to the | Christian era, and that from the dawn of history it has been feared and dreaded,
 the writer states that modern knowledge
 has dissipated many fallacious ideas,
 among them the one that if persons or animals are bitten by dog they are | liable to become rabid if the dog should contract the disease at any future time. Rabies is transmitted only by animals that are actually diseased at the time the | bite is inflicted.
 Writing of the symptoms Dr. Mohler says:
 Writes on Symptoms "The symptoms of rabies are quite char i,,ta fxxfA | types--O) the furious, violent or irritable,
 and @ the dumb or paraytic. They vary | somewhat in each species but as the dis ease in the dog is the most important, it
 will receive principal attention at this l time."
 | The bulletin then says regarding furious l rabies in the dog:
 "Following the period of incubation of the disease, which is usually between
 three weeks and three months, there is first noticed in the furious form of rabies
 marked change in the disposition of the
 animal which should at once arouse sus-
 picion An affectionate dog may become
 morose and depressed, while a snapping,
 treacherous animal may become cowardly or affectionate. This Is known as the stage of development, and in one or two days is followed by an irresistible ten dency to roam. If prevented the dog will fight or bite at the restrain or at any
 thing that interferes with his freedom This rowing may occur for one to, three days, during which he travels aimlessly
 in a nervous and irritable condition. His
 instinctive methods of defense are nearly always highly developed or exaggerated, but he seldom wilfully attacks persons or other animals without provocation
 When he returns, if not destroyed in the meanwhile, he shows from his exhausted, dirty sheepish, or depressed appearance evidences of wandering. Having returned home, he frequently seeks secluded places such as are found under the house or porch.
 Excessive Saliva
 "During this period of rowing he exhibits a disposition to eat or chew indigestible objects, as rags, leather, straw, feathers, sticks and even pieces of coal, which are often swallowed. The secretion of saliva in some cases appears to be excessive, oW- ing to the inability to swallow. and sometimes becomes frothy from the champing of the jaws. However, foam ing at the mouth is not a constant symp- tom of rabies, as is commonly believed by the layman; and furthermore, It Is fre- auently misleading owing to the fact that it may be observed In other diseases. The erroneous opinion among the laity that dogs suffering with this disease are afraid of water is also misleading. since such dogs have been known to swim streams in their roamngs On the other hand. they 5ppear to be afraid of nothing, as is evidenced by attacking all animals regardless of size.
 "A change in the voice of the animal is peculiar to this affection, and is due to the beginning paralysis of the throat, which usually sets in early. Instead of the nor nal bark the affected dog makes a long. resonant, peculiarly drawn-os:t bark which
 has been likened to the yelp of a coyote.
 Later, as the paralysis gradually extends,
 barking and swallowing become impossi- ble although attempts may be made to swallow. At this stage the muscles of the jaw become paralyzed, causing the lower jaw to drop and the tongue to hang out, which makes 1t collect dirt and appear dry and darker in color Owing to this latter symptom the disease has been termed sblack tongue" in certain sections. | tJpon closer observation the pupil of the l eve is frequently found to be dilated. The paralysis continues to extend, the hind | legs become involved, and the dumb form | of the disease results. Finally death fol- | lows in from four to eight days after the
 development of the first symptoms Dumb Rabies
 Dumb rabies is described as follows "The dumb or paraytic form of rabies is much more infrequent than the furious type, and is characterized by the early appearance of paralysis without symp- toms of frenzy or irritabilty which are observed in the early stages ff the furious form. Therefore, the animal affected with this type of the disease Is not cap- able of doing much damage Indeed, the dog is much depressed from the beginning and seeks quiet spots or hides in some secluded place. Probably the first symp- tom noted by the owner is the paralysis of the lower jaw, as a result of which the animal is often suspected of having a bone in it's throat The paralysis quickly progresses until it involves the legs and trunk and results in death in from one to three days
 The writer says the most common means dogs, cats and cattle. Dr. Moher empha- 11 l.,.