The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-14

barking as In rabies Finally, tetanus
may he distinguished from rabies By
the fact that the central nervous sys-
tenn does not contain tho infectious
principle. while in rabies tho inocula-
ton Of tcst animals with tho brain or
cord OF a rabid animal will produce
tho disease with characteristic symp-
toms after an Interval or ffteen TO
twenty days. This period OF incuba-
ton is much longer than in t-tanus.
since the noculation or rabbits with
tetanus bacilli Invariably results II
death after short period. usually
within three or four days"
II would appear from these gentle
men tina; no disease is so he'd ged about
by fallacy and superstition as hydro
phobla
Influence of Dog Days.
The Introductory sentence OF this
article reflects one of the most widely
believed OF these fallacies.
The idea is prevalent with many
people" said DIT Hart. aforementioned.
"tha, dogs arc particularly liable to
20 mad during the so-called dos
days which extends from the first OF
July to the middle of August These
days arc called dog days because
they cover the period OF time when
the dog star. Sirius. is above the hor-
lion with the sun.
They have no connection with the
dog On account of the ciemency OF
the weather dogs probably travel about
during this season more than in winter.
and hence arc slightly mare liable to
Infection. Statistics. however. show
that the disease is present throughout
the year. and seasons have very little,
If any influence.
1T is commonly believed" aided the
doctor that "A person bitten by
dog in perfect health is liable to be-
come affected with hydrophobia should
the dog develop rabies at any SUISSE
Guent period. however long aftcrward.
Consequently believers in this theory
are particularly anxious to have the
dog killed al once before he mas had
an opportunity to 20 mad Nothing
could be more fallacious and at vari-
ancc with our knowledge NJ all IN
fictitious diseases and the killing OF
tho dos should always be discouraged.
Until recently it was considered that
the dogs saliva became viruient only
three days before the appearance Of
symptoms OF rabies. According to some
recent experiments bv Nicolas ii has
been found that the saliva may become
virulent six or eight days before the
/ symptoms develop. Therefore In case
the animal remains healthy for ten
days after il has bitten the person or
animal. no danger need be app-ehcnded
from that bite, even though .he dog
develop rabies with in the next few
weeks
The Maidstone Fniiacv.
The curative value OF the mcdstone
is still devoutly believed in oy a great
many people in certain sections OF the
country Within tho last few years a
maidstone was forwarded to tho depart
ment, the owner stating that it had
prevented several cases of rabies and
he was anxious for 1t to be tried by
the bureau. Some of these mn lstones.
properly called hair falls. arc obtained
from the stomachs OF various wild
and domestic animals. They are in
some eases composed OF matted hair
which the animal has licked from its
body and swallowed; but in the ma
joritv OF cases they consist OF masses
Of vegetable fhcr such as the awns
Of clover and boards OF grain. which
have gradually collected over con-
sdera bic period OF time and arc form
cd into a spherical shape by the con
traction OF the gactric walls. Call
stones. intestinal calculi. and. in fact,
any porous stones may be used as
after n person has been bitten the
maidstone Is applied to tho wound, and
II is believed that the longer 1t adheros
tho moro sure II is OF preventing the
disease. Whether II will stick or not
depends entirely on the amount OF hem
orrhage or discharge from tho wound.
| Where this is profusc the blood infl-
trates the meshcs of the MAIDS tone soon
coagulates or dries and tends to hold
II in place. and II adheres FOR a con =
siderable time under such circumstan-
ces. In these cases the virus is sup
posed to be removed and the treatment
! is heralded success. On the other
Ia urh he wound lie a N
the discharge slight there is NOTHING
! to hold the stone in place and II i'm
mediately falls of Certain of these
madstones have been held in families
for three or four generations and are
guarded as carefully as any heirloom
, Cases have been known where people
have made long Journeys and paid
u large sums of money to have mad
stone applied. Its specific value against
rabies is no greater than that OF a
= piece of blotting paper applied in the
same manner The application of mad
= stones gives the unenliEhtened pdblic
7 a false sense OF security. and their
use should he discouraged by all pos
= sible means"
Z The maidstone" in the photogra pm
k published herewith is in collection.
e Illustrating the superstitions OF medi
. cine. some time ago installed in tho
( | National Museum. BY permission OF
| the curator, Medical Director James
r NJ. Flint. u. 5. ~. here had 1T pho
| tcgrapher.
al 1t is one of the most popular stones
: used for this purpose. being OF "holloy-
9 site which will absorb blood with
h aviditv and adhere to wound until
saturated After use II Is soaked In
{ warm milk and water. by which the
g ! virus is supposed to he absorbed.
q Some of the most famous madstones OF
: the world are of this material"
e Water Fear Myth
r at is commonly believed that mad
dogs will not go near water" added
Dr. Hart, land in case such an animal
is seen to ford a creek or lake. this
is taken as proof that he did not have
rabies"