The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-02-04
'RABID DOCS BITE FORTY FOLK HERE
City Officials to Take Drastic Measures to Get
 Rid of Dogs

Within the last four months forty peo-
 pie have been bitten by maddogs in. Br-
 mingham They have been treated in the
 municipal Pasteur laboratory in the city
 hall Each was positive case.
 The total number treated last year was
 a few more than sixty.
 National state and municipal reports
 show that this malady is on the increase
 The reason given for it's growth is the
 careless way people handle their dogs. in allowing the animals to run at large Brmingham's board of health, backed by the commissioners and police depart ment, has started campaign to elimi- nate from the city all street dogs. Dogs found at large will be held for their owners, if the animal has collar
 bearing license tag. By paying the
 pound fees the animal may be reclaimed. Unmarked dogs will he killed.
 Plans are being made to build small
 asphyxiafion chamber. It will be an air
 tight room In it the stray and un-
 turned on This method saves expense and kills the dogs without much pain. Dr. J. D. Bowling. director of the board of health. says that the symptoms in rabid dogs vary considerably, but, in a general way, the presence of the disease in the animal may be seen by the dogs restlessness and nervousness. It usually has 8 tendency, in the early stages, to snap at other animals and moving ob- jects. In this stage the animal is often more obedient and affectionate than usual to those it knows. The next mo- ticeable signs are its failing appetite. and then, an almost unmistakable sign,
 it's bark sounds higher and has me-
 tallic quality. This is caused by its
 throat and tongue swelling. Almost in-
 variably the infected dogs tongue and
 throat swell and become more and more
 paralyzed.
 The frantic action of some rabid dogs around water is not caused by their be- ing afraid of the water, but because they can't use their paralyzed tongues to lap and drink. Hot with fever, with threats parched. the animals are wild for drink of water, but their mouths won't func- ton, hence their peculiar action. Often the infected dog leaves home for hours, restlessly travelling for miles and usually coming home exhausted
 In some cases the action of the disease on the motor cells of the brain cause paralysis of the entire animal, or it's | legs only, in which cases it merely lies down and stays down until it dies. How ever, if is dangerous to go near them | for they are as anxious 10 snap with their 1 rritated mouths the animals that re- ! thin tie use of their limbs.
 1 If ir can be accomplished safely, don t | kill the dog that is under suspicion. The l it in a safe place. IL will take but few | days to see if it is positive case If it I is expedient to kill the animal. cut off 1 it's head with as much neck as can be ] left on Make the cut close to the | animals shoulders. Soak the head for an | hour in a per cent solution of formal dehyde or carbolic acid. Then pack it | in a water-tight tin box with ice and send it to the Pasteur Institute in the city hall. express prepaid. It will not be received unless the express is prepaid. 1 There have been more maddogs in Ala bama during the last year than in any year of the states history The number ! os cases has been increasing steadily Hot weather has nothing to do with the dis l ease Usually there are more cases Tn winter than in summer.
 l But the main thing the authorities are after is clearing the streets of stray dogs, i over 6100 of which are said to be in the city. These will be gootten rid of as fast as the officials and employees can work.