The Washington times., 1921-07-03

tions. The breathing Ia hurried and
irregular. There is great thirst, but
the patient. has 80 much difficulty In
swallowing water that he sometimes
rejects fiuids after vsinly attempting
to swallow them, with violent DEM
onstrstions OF irritation and despair
This is what has given rise TO the
idea that the patient breads the
liquid Itself. and hasi unfortunately
attached the name OF hydrophobia to
the disease IN question The saliva
becomes remarkably viscid and
tenacious, and appears to add much
to the distress OF the patient, who
ondeaVors constantly to detsch It and
expel Il from kls mouth. This condi-
tion of nervous irritation rapidly
sxhausts the strength OF the patient,
and death takes place. usually on the
second or third day.
There are three capital errors,
commonly entertained by the public
in regard to this dreaded disease,
which add very mucn to the danger
spoken OF. G
HOT WEATHER FALLACY.
First. that the dog Is liable TO the
disease more especially or exclusive
ly in hot weather; second, that the
mad dog will not drink. and third,
that he always manifests a ferocious
disposition. Neither OF these things
IL true, and the consequence. Is that
a dog in cool weather. who Is seen
TO drink freely. and is not especially
ferocious. is looked upon without
suspicion and treated with familiar
ity, and yet he may be hydrophobie
and capable OF infiicting a mortal
wound. or OF communicating the fatal
n.
upon the hand of it's master or some
member OF the household. ~
The best illustration that the
weather or climatic condition has
nothing TO do with uydrophobis being
developed In dog Is shown by the
Health Department records OF the
District OF Columbia.
In three months I'm 1s0o-from oe-
tober to December-there were forty
Ave cases Of rabies among dogs T.,
the District OF Columbia which retl-
dered Il necessary for the Commits
sioners to issue a proclamation re-
quIring all dogs to be muxzled. Dur
ing that year sixty-eight cases sus-
pected OF having rabies were report
ed to the Health Department. but It
is significant that the outbreak OF
rabies in the animals took place
from OClODtF| 70 DeCtmDtTs the very
months In which dogs win be at
lowed TO run at large. without mur-
zles by the new order OF the Dis
trict Commissioners which goes into
effect october .. Fifteen persons were
known to the Health Department 20
have been bitten by these rabid
dogs. but due TO their Immediately
submitting themselves TO the Pas
teur treatment. their lives were
saved.
sULKs IN KENNEL.
The hrst symptoms of hydrophobla
In a dog. according TO the worlds
leading specialists consist in a
gloomy and somber disposition, to-
Rether with a nervous agitation and
disquletuds, which ia betrayed by
frequent changes of position. The
Animal. usually cheerful and desir-
GUS Of oompanionship, seeks to avoid
Ills master or playmatss. He sulks
into his kennel, into a closet into
corners, underneath pieces OF furni-
ture. and endeRvors TO escape notice.
II called out he obeys, but slowly
and unwiliinRly, and as soon as nos
sible again betakes himself TO his
retreat. In a few minutes he IL dis
satisfied with H. and leaves II for
another.
Ths expression of his eye Is sus-