The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-02-26
ALL ABOUT HYDRoPHoBIA

one rapid QoS or coyote may lnttlct
an untold number of animals 1t is
only question of how many he can
come in contact with, says DR.. E. Z.
Laubaugh, state bacteriologist. With
mad coyotes running everywhere a
situation confronts Idaho which is SER
iouS and must be met squarely and
not half'heartedly. DR.. Laubaugh ex-
plains the workings of this peculiar
disease i'll a very clear manner.
Hydrophobia is by no means a new
or novel disease. The ancient writer's
have recorded good descriptions of its
symptoms and treatment The dis
case received the name of hydrophobia
because of one of its characteristic
symptoms, tapparent fear of water,
1t is also called rabies, the more com
mon term, because of the Juror or
madness the naimal presents.
Any Animal Susceptible.
Dogs and coyotes are by no means
the only animals susceptible. Cat
tie, sheep, horses, the MoM, cat
fox and man may also be attacked and
in turn transmit the viris. The dog
is the most commonly attacked of the
domestic animals.
The time to diagnose the disease is
before the period of ferocity develops.
There are two types of the disease
furious and dumb. Each has its well
marked period of suspicious actions.
In the early stage of the disease, the
dog shows signs of extreme restless
ness. He selects out of the way cor
ners Of the room or house, throws
himself down but has the appearance
OF being unable to find the right, com
portable spot, so promptly gets up and
selects another. He will snap at i'm
Iagainary objects, appear i'll at ease
and worried
May Be observation-disclosures.
At this time he will obey his mas
ter, but does it sullenly and shows
disposition to be irritable, alth ough
he may have periods in which he is
overly affeotionate, licking his mas
ters hands and different objects. This
period is an extremely dangerous one
as in licking he distributes, large
quantities of infectious saliva over the
hands, and if there is an open would
or break OF the skin, the virus find
an avenue of entrance into the system.
he appetite may De ravenous and
capricious, he attempts to eat wood,
scraps OF iron, stones, and may even
devour his own excreta.
| The second stage is the one of feroc-
lty, or madness, and is the period in
which the animal exhibits the insati-
able desire to destroy every object
which comes in his way 1t is of but
shore duration but his every move is
made bent on destruction. He contin-
ues his mad running attack until ex-
Ihaustlon compels him to stop.
Develops Paralysis Finally
he third stage is he beginning OF
the end. During this stage paralysis
OF the various muscles becomes pro-
nounced. The animal not only has
dlttlculty in swallowing. as evidenced
IN previous stages, but the throat mus
cles became totally paralyzed. He can
neither drink nor eat the smallest
quantity of water or food. Emaciation
develops rapidly and the animal dies
where he has dropped, his last act. il
ne De excited, still bent upon desruc-
ton.
The time honored belief that the
mad dog is afraid Of water is absolute
~ erroneous, he attempts to drink,
Du cannot because of the paralysis of
the. throat muscles. He jdoes not
hesitate to swim streams if the object
OF his attack be on he opposite shore.
The bark, or rather, howl of the
rabId dog is of extreme diagnostic
importance. 1t is a hoarse bark
likened to noise made by a child
with the Group.
Dumb Rabies.
In dumb rabies there is but a short
period of ferocity, if any at all. Para
iysis sets IN early, the muscles of the
lower, jaw are the first attacked the
paw drops and the dog cannot bite be-
cause of this condition. He arouses
PITY instead of fear and usually has
the appearance of having bone
caught in his teeth Not few per
sons have become infected because Of
ms appearance, becoming infected by
v dog aid ''
The diagnosis of rabies is of the ut
most Importance. Upon it depends
the prompt and efficient preventive
treatment. Development of the dis
ease in man without an attempt at
prevention invariably spells death,
Early diagnosis with PaSteurs preyen-
we treatment has reduced the MORTAL
~ to one in two hundred. as based
upon the report of some thirty thous-
and cases.
Microscope Srows Infection.
lhe modern method of diagnosis is
by the miscrscope. Small bodies char
3cteristic of the disease are easily
demonStrable in the central nar,,o,,s
system. In order to insure an ahsoI-
ute diagnosis, the brain must be fresh
or properly protected against decom-
position, the disease must have pro-
crossed sufficiently to permit the
bodies to develop; the brain must he
intact. ~
Miscroscope Shows Infection,
1t one is suspicious of the aot;on of
an animal, don't kill it immediately,
Isolate 1t and call veterinarian. Have
Jour suspicious reasonably confirmed
before killing, Don't shoot the animal
n