The Washington times., 1920-07-04
Warns D. c. OF.
MAD DOG PERIL.
Fowler Points Out Deadly Ma
ture Of Rabies and Tells What
to Do II Bitten.

with scores, OF stray dogs roaming
the streets OF Washington and with
daily reports Of persons being bitten.
the Health Department has Issued de-
tailed Instructions to owners OF dogs
and 70 the public generally. which 10
liable to attack during the hot sum
mer months.
.If you are bitten by dog even re-
moteIy suspected OF having hydro
phobia or rabies, apply Immediately
to the Hygienic Laboratory. Public
Health Service. for treatment This
service is free. The laboratory 10 at
the corner Of Twenty-nfth and 4
streets northwest. Where possible.
arrange in, advance by telephone.
West S7S.
"a patient suffering from hydro
phobia dies. There 10 no known cure.
The disease never ends In. recovery.
After the bite and before the develop
ment OF the disease. the Pasteur
treatment offers q reasonable hope OF
escape. Nothing else does"
FOWLER ISSUES CAUTIONS.
This Is the opening paragraph OF
the statement issued to dog owners
by DR.. william c. Fowler. District
Health Ofncer.
Avoid sick dogs. No dog should be
allowed to run at large unmuzzled.
Cauterization OF tho wound, even
though done Immediately, cannot be
depe nded upon to prevent rabies. The
wound should be subjected to surgical
treatment. II bitten by . rabid dog
the only hope of avoiding the develop
ment of rabies lies in the fasteur
treatment, adopted at the earliest pos
sible moment and energetically fol-
lowed up under the instruction Of q
competent physician
A dog suspected Of haying rabies.
II II has not bitten Q PERSON or other
animal. should be Immediately killed
on confined and turned over to q COM
petent veterinarian. II the dog has
bitten q person or other animal,
he should not be killed II 1t 10 poss-
sible to avoid this, but should be cap.
tured and turned over to the Health
Department, Main 5000. In order that
the beast may be Quarantined and OBJ
served, as the diagnosis can be made
more certainly when the animal ID
alive. Another reason for not killing
the dog IL that the body may be mu-
tilated or there may be unavoidable
delay in It's removal. and the mutila-
tion or post-mortem changes incident
to the delay may interfere with ex-
fore, lose some OF their value or oven
be altogether valueless.
II in any case It IL impossible To
connne the animal suspected OF hav-
Ing rabies, an effort should be made
to kill IL with as little injury to
the brain as possible. The Health
Department should be Immediately
notified.
TWO FORMS OF RABIES.
Two forms of rabies exist, dumb
and furious rabies.
The symptom Of dumb rabies In a
dog is inability to close the mouth.
Evidence OF listlessness will be
shown. Paralysis Of the throat re-
suits and the dog can neither bark
bite, nor swallow.
Furious rabies shows It's appear
ance in a thoroughly mean disposi'
tion on the part of the infected ami
NAL. 1t Is liable to snap at any pass
ing person or dog. A rabid dog ID
apt to get in out Of way places, under
furniture. and the like. 1t barks with
out apparent cause. 1t snaps at In
ding, and books and will bite furni-
ture, apparently. oblivious Of pain
The bark is a characteristic. long
drawn out, forced howl. The eyes
have a cunning souint and the pupils
are dilated. Usually on, or about the
third day, the animal becomes excit-
ed, biting and chewing any object
| within reach, and, II not confined. is
liable to leave home on a mad Jour-
ney. 1t attacks without cause and
without fear any other animal, es.
pecially q dog, which comes near. The
bite 10 inflicted without growl OF
bark. The violent symptoms last from
three to four days. after which paral'
ysis sets in and the animal dies. Fits
or convulsions do not occur until just
| before death.
Cats suffering from rabies seek
dark places. If they do wander, they
are likely to be very vicious, biting
and scratching. Death comes on the
| fourth or fifth day.