The Lexington progress. (Lexington, Tenn.) 1884-current, 1921-12-02
TALK TO FARMERS
By. T. F. Peck.
RABIES.

Rabies.
The following article supplied by
DIR. George R. White, State Veteri-
marian, will be of interest to the gen.
eral public.
Rabbie, commonly known as "Hy-
drophboia," is an acute infections dis
ease transmitted from animal to ami
NAL and from animal to man by the
bite of animals affected wit hthe dis
ease. 1t is not and cannot be trans
mitted in any other manner.
All warm blooded animals are sus-
ceptible. However, it is observed
more frequently in the dog than any
other animal, principally on account
of this animals tendency to bite.
Whenever Rabies developes in any
species of animal usually a dogs bite
is responsible therefor.
HISTORY. Rabies was described
by Aristotle in the Fourth Century b.
C The first outbreak on the Ameri-
can continent occurring in Boston in
1868. In 1879 it appeare din Phila-
delphia; since then it has spread to all
the states. Outbreaks of Rabies have
occurred in every county in Tennessee,
and at this time it is reported as pre-
valent in at least eight or ten coun-
les.
Rabies is no respector Of seasons;
it occurs during every month of the
year and with equal prevaleney. The
old expression, dog days." is a myth
PERIOD OF INCUBATION. The
time from sustaining the bite from a
rabid animal to the beginning of
symptoms of the disease is variable.
Probably more variable in rabies than
any other disease-18 days to three
years, average 80 days.
The variation is size, depth and
character of the wound, it's location
on the body and the virulence and the
amount of virus received all play an
important part in the early or late de-
velopment of the disease Wounds on
the head, neck and shoulders are al
ways the most dangerous.
SYMPTOMS. Dropped lower jaw,
which of course means open mouth,
slight protrusion of the tongue, starry
expression from the eyes, dirt or SCOT
on tongue, dripping of saliva from
the mouth, however this is not con-
slant as some rabid dogs have dry
mouths, swapping and biting at NOV
ing objects.
On account of partial paralysis of
the vocal cords the tone of the voice is
changed. There is also inability to
swallow on account of paralysis of the
throat. The animals habits and be-
havior changes. They appear uneasy
and agitated. They lie down but in a
few minutes they are up walking
about, seeking rest but finding none.
In the late stages we observe exhaus-
ton, paralysis, prostration and final
ly death.
There is tendency to leave home
and run at random over the country.
Ii they do not become exhausted and
die on the road, most rabid dogs re-
turn home to die. A rabid animal usu-
ally survives from to 6 days.
WARNING. When you observe a
dog with open, dirty mouth, slightly
protruded tongue and starey express
sion from eyes you had better be care
full. If such a dog has bitten persons
or animals, do not kill it until d dag
nosis of the case is made. Under the
above circumstances the dog should
be confined and kept under observa-
ton of qualified Veterinarian until
death occurs.
The head should then be severed
close to the body, after which pack it
in common salt and send it to a
Pathological laboratory with instruc-
tons that rabise is suspected and to
search for Negri bodies. If Negri
bodies are found, then the diagnosis
of Rabies is confirmed and Pasteur
treatment should be begun without de-
lay. No longer than five days should
be allowed to elapse between the time
of sustaining the bite of rabid ami
NAL and the beginning of the Pasteur
treatment.
Remember that the old time "Mad
Stone" is nothing more or less than
myth. It's use and curative prop
critics are superstitions. There is Just
as much virtue in piece of ordinary
blotting paper applied to a wound
made by rabid animal as there is in
the application of a MAD Stone"