The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-18
HOSTS OF HEALTH MAKE HEAD
AGAINST DISEASE.
Dr. A. +. Cowards Report shows Sue
cessfui Treatment I'm 2iS Cases Dur
Ing Past A. Months.

year has been completed without a
death from rabies among those treat
ed for the disease. Two persons died
In the State who failed To take treat
ment
I'VE now have record Of 245 con-
secutive cases without a DEATH" says
pr. Coward In his report. "a figure
which will be enlarged. trust"
DIR. Coward considers the increase
In rabies among animals serious
matter and says that the only proper
view OF rabies Is that II Is a deadly
disease. communicable from animal TO
animal. including man. as other in
fectIous diseases are" and advocates
as a logical procedure against the
disease as most important the State
wide muxzi!ng OF all dogs not confin-
ed. or In lease at all seasons OF the
year.
The report follows in full:
THE most striking feature of the
years work has been the increase
I'm all departments of our work. the
average OF all increases being AZ per
cent over 5000 specimens were ex-
amined In the diagonsis laboratory.
OF which specimens 4.260 were sub
mitted by 623 physicians. and 500 by
laymen. the latter figure is greater
than the entire number received In
the first six months OF the iabora-
tory's existence. That nearly one
half OF the physicians Of the state.
and nearly 1000 laymen are now
calling on for diagnosis seems ample
justification OF the establishment Of
the laboratory and an unanswerable
argument In favor OF its continual
tion.
'sAsDus 1sznnQR cncrsass .iu sur. work
- haA hsss. B1tySfcur per cent u
the increase In applications for treat
msnt. and % per cent the increase In
complete treatments administered.
For the first time we have completed
full year without a failure Of treat
ment and 1 have no deaths to re-
port. Two persons who failed to ,ake
treatment died In this State during
the past year. We now have a record
death. a figure which will be enlarged
i trust.
One hundred and forty-nine AMI
NAL heads were sent To the laboratory.
OF which 81 were positive and IS
doubtful b. reason of decomposition.
The animals represented were dogs,
swine and cats
This increase in rabies among ami
mails Is a real and serious matter. its
correction can not be looked for
through the Pasteur treatment. since
this Is only resorted To after the in
jury. can not be applied as gem
eral prophylatic measure like vacci-
nation. and In not used on animals
TO any effective extent. IL has con-
siderable educational value on those
treated. at any rate. The proper view
OF rabies, l. q. as deadly disease,
communicable from animal to animal.
including man. as other infectious
diseases are. Is the only proper one
This view accepted. the only logical
procedures against the disease be-
come self evident. These are-first
and most important--State-w muz-
ziing of all dogs not confined or in
leash. at all seasons OF the year. Sec
ond. the cOnnnlng and safeguarding
and careful observation 81 sick ami
mails. particularly domestic dogs and
cuts until proved To- be suffering with
some disease other than rabies. \
dog which IL not worth this attention
IN not likely to- receive much other
attention nj his masters hand. and
would be happier " chloroformed.
our case histories will show that
three-fourths Of all persons injured
By rahid dogs. and applying for
treatment. are bitten while caressing
or feeding or examining sick" dogs.
That an Intelligent man should pun
open the jaws 30 a sick dos with un-
protected hands In the search FOR IA
"wc"r under tho tonru"" seems in
credible: yet many do so. and are cx.
posed 20 infection by 80 doing \
quarantine. or better. novcntinc
against dogs imported from other
states and countries would bc
the final and logical steps In such
campaign. In Australia the period of
detention for incoming dogs Is six
months. and the disease has never
been known ON the mainland Of AUS
trtlia.