Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-31
BEWARE OF THE DOG
WHEN|T H|DESAWAY
Admonition by Dr.. Brecht in
Discussing the Dangers
of Hydrophobia.
OUTLINE OF SYMPTOMS:
SUGGESTION OF REMEDY
Prevalence of Disease in the United
States-Advice to People of
Washington.

Beware of the dog when it becomes
dull and hides away. appears restless. is
always on the move and proving. whose
countenance is somber and sullen, anC
which walks with its head down like q
bear
This is the advice of DR. Nelson Du Va
Brecht. who. in the seventh of a series oil
articles dealing with public health ques.
tons. which he has written specially fol
The Star describes the symptoms OF
hydrophobia and methods for treating the
disease and points out how citizens may
be on their guard against rabd dogs.
According to DR.. Brecht, who formerly
was assistant surgeon in the United States
public health service and also anatomisi
at the United States Army Medical Mu-
Sem. the frequency OF hydrophobia in
and about Washington recently has been
alarming.
lie indorses the dog nuzzling order
which is in effect here, and declares thar
a similar regulation should be part OF
the sanitary laws of every city.
Meaning of Word Hydrohobia.
The article follows:
Inc word 'hSQrUphODid means literal
ly fear of water. Hydrophoba is an
acute infectious or communica be disease
of man and other warm-blooded ANIMALS.
Synonyms are lyssa. rabies and mad
ness. Historically. hydrophobia is one
III the most ancient diseases known TO
man .usruta described it about 500
Il. g., how dogs. jackals. foxes. wolves.
bears and tigers became rabid. foaming
at the mouth which remained open
saliva flowing from II. Their tails hans
Il.
snap and bite at one another. and thus
communicate the maladv To their Eel
,ous.
psutarch, admittedly not the mos,
scientific observer. relates that rabies
was first observed III men in the days
of the Asclepiadeae the earliest known
physicians Homer described Hector a.
raging dog" In the fable abou,
Nctacon having been torn to pieces by
his own dogs at the hehest of the chastf
Diana, il is To be presumed that lis
dogs had become mad or rabid. Denoc-
'itus the laughing philosopher. VINO
Travelled extensively. described hydro
pitobia about .ss b. T. In 1911 there
was very notable epIaemic of IA bies. il
hich nlant French and German shen
nerds suffered. Many iii Spain endured
and died of fortunes exceeding those o.
any inquisition about IL
In ancient English parish registers en-
tries such as The following may be found
'Hodgkinscu. Thomas dyed We lItl
dale Of hpril, 1917. y Bile wa
s.nothercd for yc madness. Whicl
means. that the unfortunate Hodgkinson
havin. been bitten by mad dog hi
iiind-hearted neighbors settled his fat
Tor him by putting feather bed on to]
of him and sitting on him till he wa
sutfocated.
In lIl.. the Hungarian woods were in
Tested with rabid animals In 1910 L
lI.2 there We're numerous epidemics o
rabies. in which women and childre
uttered most cruelty throughout al
E.urone. Fife. in Scotland, was I'm Ia
notoriouslS infested with mad dogs /
49, there We're many mad dogs aboIl
st James. London.
Prevalence in United States.
IN 1TGS the people OF Boston suffere
much by reason OF rabid dogs and foxes
rs also in Philadelphia and MARYLAND i
1879. From 1855 20 1850 there was niue
canine rabies In the United States: fror