The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-04-03
BY DR.. HI. E. Nicholson.

10y III. H. Gs NAAClclSON
The mayor of Virginia has issued
an order that all dogs must be muz-
zled. This is for the purpose of pro-
tecting the public, especially children,
from the possibility Of being bitten by
dogs which may be mad. Many dogs
may be vicious and bite, but the num-
Der of mad dogs is fortunately small.
In order that the symptoms of rabies
may early be recognized, and that the
owner may have some definite plan to
follow out should his pet become mad,
has prompted US to write this brief
article.
Definition.
Rabies is an acute, infectious dis
ease usually transmitted to man from
the lower animals through biting. It
is an ancient disease and is we'll dis
cribed by the early Greek writer's.
Pasteur-whose name is greater in
France than that of Napoleon-did an
immense amount of work on the dis
ease and to him is due the credit of
saving hundreds of lives annually, as
a result of his discovery-the Pasteur
preventative treatment for rabies.
Rabies is found in all countries and
is especially prevalent in the United
States. In 1908 there were III
deaths while 1900 persons coming
from 534 different localities took the
Pasteur treatment. Up to January
1910 there were total of 426 cases
treated at the Pasteur Institute at
Minneapolis with but one death. Five
valuable dogs were also treated. Last
year IS animals were examined and
Is were found to have the disease.
Sectional Distribution.
In spite of the fact that the sum-
mer months are popularity called "dog
days." the statistics do not up
hold this. In the months of June,
July and August SO dogs were exam
med and IS proved to be rabid, while
in those same months 231 persons
were bitten by supposedly mad dogs,
but only 1O7 required treatment. In
the months of December, January and
February the same number Of dogs
were examined as in the summer
months, but 80 proved to be rabid,
and although only 108 persons were
bitten in the winter months, still 70
required treatment. Showing con-
clusively that the disease is more pre-
velant in winter, although more peo-
pie are bitten in summer because
children and dogs play on the streets
in the warm months.
The Spread of the Disease.
The disease is spread by either a
fresh or old bite becoming infected by
the saliva from mad animal. Bites
on the hands and face are most dan
gerous because these parts are unpro-
tected. The parts clothed often dc
not become infected when bitten be-
cause the saliva is wiped off the teeth
in passing through the clothing. Old
wounds, hang nails, scratches, etc.
become infected by being licked by a
pet animal who is in the beginning
stages of rabies. No specific germ
has been isolated but the result of the
action of the virus can be seen in the
brain of infected animals.
Prevention:
In the entire United Kingdom OF
Great Britain all dogs must be muz-
zled. After this order was put into
effect in 1896 up to 1902, there were
only two cases of rabies reported fol
the entire Kingdom. Since 1902 there
have been no cases. The statistics OF
the city of Berlin, Germany, show uni
formily good results from enforced
muzzling. AS in smallpox, the Unit.
ed States is slow. to enact and en-.
force measures which are known tt
absolutely prevent diseases. -
plan of state licensing of dogs
has been suggested by the state boare
of health. Every dog would then have
to wear a brass tag bearing its own
er's name and address. This woule
greatly facilitate looking up ant