The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1916-07-11


RABIES OR HYDROPHOB1A IN AMI
MAILS.
The term 'shydrophobia was en-
ployed as name for the disease of
rabies at a time when it was thought
that fear Of the sight of water was one
of the best symptoms in its determina-
ton. The disease, like many others,
occurs in nearly all countries.
It is principally canine disease,
being seen mostly in dogs, and usually
transferred from dog to dog, dog to
man, or dog to other animals. Only a
few animals are not susceptible to it.
Other than the dog, most cases report
ed to the Veterinary Division have
been in cattle. A number have been
made where hogs were affected, and
| several in horses and sheep.
|ts sDr. G.. A. Roberts was recently call
l.ss4ato one county where there was a
Suspicious outbreak in cattle. Seven
head out of herd Of eighty cows in
one pasture died, and the clinical SYM
ptoms were typical Of rabies. How
ever, the brain from one of the ami
mails was removed and sent to the lab
oratory, where the bodies which are
so characteristic of the disease were
found in the cellular structure of the
brain. Some dogs which had been
showing symptoms Of rabies had also
been killed in the neighborhood, and
other deaths had occurred in cattle and
sheep. This all went to prove that the
cattle had died of rabies.
The identity of the specific cause of
TIE disease has not been accepted by
al investigators, though many Of then,
believe it to be an animal organism
represented by the "Negri Bodies
mentioned above.
The natural manner of transmission
, of the disease is by no means of intro
ducing saliva into or under the skin
with the bite Of an infected animal
With few exceptions, the bite is from
! dog. If he is not infected, the bite
cannot result in the disease, nor vii
, the bite from all infected animals de
! velop rabies The failure to know thi
= fact has made many so-called "mad
1 stones'' famous.
The length of the time occurring be
: tween the bite of the animal and th
: development of the disease varies from
4 few weeks to several months in rar
: instances. Dogs bitten by another suz
e picious dog should be kept confined an
i under observations for at least tw
= months, though most .cases will develo
!, IL ouy-f1atff tire ti-<1e.sg@sr
E There are two forms of rabies mos
|. commonly observed in dogs. One
the "'furious'' and the other tn
I "dumb,' and the terms used are dc
scriptive of the general symptoms Q
each. Paralysis, indicated by an il
* ability to swallow feed or water,
e present in the latter stages of eac
g form. A positive diagnosis may b
q made in many oases from the SYM
.e toms alone, but in other cases a labo
d atory examination is necessary. Th
k consists first of a micrqaeopial exam
A. ination of some of the brain substance
Is and if the bodies are found positiv
p. diagnosis is made. Otherwise it wi
N be necessary to produce the disease in
ii small laboratory animal before such
m diagnosis can be rendered.
w Another and much preferable labo
O. atory test is now in process of deve
20 opment. This consists Of taking sal
III pie of blood from living or healtl
person or snimal which has been bi
rk ten by diseased animal and submi
k ting the sample to a tets. In this ca
nr 1t will not be necessary to wait uni
symptoms develop or the animal di
be tc determine the infection. Such a te
nt will enable the authorities to use t
W. Pasteur preventive treatment only
er such persons or animals whose bio
en- shows a positive reaction.-Ex.