The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-08-20
HOW TO HANDLE
A "MAD DOG"

In Georgia is quite prevalent and will
continue to be so long as worthless,
ownerless dogs are permitted to run
at large over the county. 1t has been
demonstrated beyond question OF
doubt that this disease is spread by
dogs. In England hydrophobia was
quite prevalent at one time. Laws
were passed requiring all dogs to be
muzzled while on the streets or in
public places. Within two years the
disease was completely exterminated.
1t was necessary, of course, to estab-
lish rigid quarantine regulations for
all dogs imported from the continent.
Recently a few cases Of rabies have
occurred in England in spite of the
rigid enforcement Of quarantine laws.
An investigation revealed the fact
that aviators, with whom dogs were
quite popular as mascots, in flying
back and forth across the Channel
them from time to time, with result
that the disease has again re-appeared.
The most common symptom of the
rabid dog is the tendency to attack
and bite every moving object, But it
does not necessarily follow that every
biting dog is rabid. A wound from a
non-rabid dog is not more dangerous
than a wound from some other acct
dental source. There is more or less
danger from every wound. regal dless
of source, and precautions should al.
ways be taken to prevent pyogenic in
lection, or blood poisoning. The ques'
ton of hydrophobia should always be
considered, however.
In case of dog bite proceed as fol
lows:
/. Disinfect the wound with iodine
or carbolic acid A small drop Of
nitric acid Is preferable, but care
the edges of the wound. A physician
should be consulted.
2. Don't get excited. There is very
little danger, il proper precautions
are carried out.
5. Capture the dog, if possible. II
the symptoms of the disease are we'll
developed so that there is no question
Of the diagnosis, it may be killed at
once, care being taken not 10 injurs
the brain, and the head shipped to the
state board Of health laboratory care.
fully packed in ice. The express
regulations require that such material
be sealed water tight in tin contain.
ers. The sealed container should be
enclosed in an outside container also
4. II the diagnosis is not certain
the animal should under no circum.
fined for. observation for ten days:
During observation he should he treat.
ed kindly, fed well and housed com.
fortably. The active 5 age OF tables,
known as the mad" stage. rarely
lasts longer than four or I've days
during which time the symptoms be
come rapidly more pronounced. In the
majority OF cases, if the animal is
rabid a diagnosis can be established
within twenty-four hours. A veter.
marian should be sommoned Ii posi-
BILE. If the animal continues normal
during the period Of observation
seems to eat. drink and sleep we'll
then the idea of rabies may safely be
dismissed. 1t is not necessary to con
fine him longer than ten days. Hun.
dreds of people are treated in Georgia
every year unnecess arily simply be.
cause the suspected animal was kill.
ed too quickly. The laboratory ex.
animation cannot be depended upon
in the early stages Of the disease. In
other words, after tho dog is dead
there is absolutely no way of proving
definitely that he was not mad. Wher.
ever there is any douO,. we always
advise treatment, as a precautionary
measure.
5. In submitting a dog head to the
laboratory for examination, it is al
ways advisable to report all the facts
regarding the case. This includes a
history of the animal for several DAYS
previous, and a description of its &C.
tons at the time il was killed.
6. If the animal cannot be captured
within two days, the patient should ap.
ply for treatment. If the patient is
bitten about the face or head, he
should apply for treatment without de.
LAY, unless a consideration Of the
facts at hand eliminates all suspicion
of rabies. Many gentle and mild tenn
pered animals may becoms vicious il
i'll treated or provoked too far. Bites
from such animals are not dangerous
from the standpoint If rabies. OBJ
servation for a few days. however,
will clear uD such cases