The Blackfoot optimist., 1916-12-14
IT'S 0YNPToAl0
AND pRBvEN1ATIVES


dition after having fought with coy
otes at Meridian, Mountainhome and
Sumnyside. One rabid dog may infest
an untold number of dogs. 1t is only
a question of how many dogs with
which he can come i'll contact. Idaho
must get busy at once, meet the situa-
tion squarely and not half heartedly.
or she will find herself III condition
similar to the present situation in Cal
ifornia and Oregon.
Hydrophobia is by no means a new
or novel disease. The ancient writer's
have recorded good descriptions of its
symptoms and treatment. The disease
received the name of hydrophobia be-
cause of one of its characteristic SYM
ptoms apparent fear of water). 1t is
also called rabies, the more common
term, because of the furor or madness
the animal presents.
Dogs and coyotes are by no means
the only animals susceptible. Cattle,
sheep, horses, the wolf, cat, fox and
man may also be attacked and in turn
transmit the virus. The dog is the
most commonly attacked of the do
nestle animals.
The time to diagonise the disease is
before the period of ferocity develops.
There are two types of the disease
furious and dumb. Each has its we'll
marked period of suspicious actions.
In the early stages Of the disease the
dog shows signs of extreme restless
ness. He selects out of the way cor
ners in the room or house, throws him
self 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 an
imaginary object, appear i'll at ease
and worried. At this time he will obey
his master, but does it sullenly and
shows disposition to be irritable, al
though he may have periods in which
he is overly affectionate, licking his
masters hands and different objects.
This period is an extremely dangerous
one, as in licking he distributes large
quantities Of infection saliva over the
hands, and if there is an open wound or
break in the skin, the virus finds an
avenue of entrance into the system.
The appetite may be ravenous and ca
priciouA he attempts to eat wood,
scraps. of iron, stones and may even
devoure his own excreta.
The second stage is the one of fe'
rocity or madness, and if the period
in which the animal exhibits his in
satiable desire to destroy every OBJ
iect which comes in his way. 1t is of
but short duration but his every move
is bent on destruction. He continues
his mad running attack until exhaus-
ton compels him to stop.
The third stage is the beginning of
the end. During this stage paralysis
of the various muscles becomes pro
nounced. The animal not only has diff
ficulty in swallowing, az evidenced in
the previous stages, but the throat
muscles become totally paralyzcd. He
can neither drink nor eat the small
est quantity of water or food. Emaci'
alton develops rapidly and the animal
dies where has dropped, his last act,
if he is excited still bent upon dcs-
truction.
The time -honored belief that a mad
dog is afraid of water is absolutely
erroneous he attempts to drink, but
cannot because of the paralysis of the
throat muscles. He does not hesitate
to swim across streams if the object
of his attack be OH the opposite SIDE
The bark, or rather howl of the rabid
dog is of extreme diagonistic impor'
tance 1t is hoarse bark hkened to
q noise made by child with the Group
Dumb Rabies.
Tn the dumb rabies there is but a
very short period of ferocity, II any
at all; paralysis sets in early, the mus
c,es of the lower jaw being the first
attacked, the jaw drops and the aos
cannot bite because of this cohditloh
He arouses pity rather than fear ana
usually has the appearance OF having
q hone caught in his teeth. Not rev
,ersons have become infected because
of this appearance, becoming infected
nv the saliva in attempting to rehaef
the dog aid
Diagnosis: The diagnosis of rabies
is of the utmost Importance. upon IL
depends the prompt and efficient pre-
ventive treatment. Development OF
the disease in man without AN attempt
at prevention invariably spells death