Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-31

while the mad race Of rabid ami
mails has carried this infection from
the eastern part Of our country to
the extreme west, Maine has been
fortunate, indeed, In escaping It SO
long. Even in some of our New Eng
land states rabies has, of late years,
been a matter Of serious concern.
"The last issue of the monthly
bulletin of the department of health
Of New Jersey indicates an increase
in the prevalence of rabies among
dogs that Is alarming. and is leading
to vigorous campaigns in the state
against the danger; and just a few
days ago a letter received in the
Maine Office from one of the COM
mercial laboratories states that they.
were then supplying the Pasteur
treatment to 81 persons who had been
bitten by dogs supposed to be rabid.
These patients were In Pennsylvania,
Virginia and two other southern
states
Immediately upon the report of
these cases in Maine of presumably
canine rabies, circular on that dis
ease was prepared In the office OF
the state department of health and
sent to the printer as rush job. for
If secondary crop Of cases is to
appear among the dogs, it is very
important indeed that the earliest
symptoms Of any new cases should
showing symptoms that indicate the
onset Of rabies may be dealt with in
the way that means safety; that
persons bitten by such dogs may
have the right treatment.
after the virus has been deposited
in the wound it remains latent for
variable period before the first symp
toms apear. In dogs this period of
incubation Is usually from 20 to, 60
days, but 1t may be shorter or con-
siderably longer.
Usually the first symptom to be
noticed is a change in the disposition
of the animal. Restlessness shows
itself, but the movements are made
without purpose; hiding in secluded
places, starting suddenly, listening
to imaginary noises, a depraved ap-
petite. After from one to three days
from the initial symptom, the second
stage is ushered in.
IN this second stage. the period
Of excitement, the restlessness of the
animal become more marked. be-
comes extreme. and the period Of ex-
ttement and Juror Is ushered in. II
free he often travels many miles,
much Of the time running at rapid
rate. biting at living creatures and
at inanimate objects.
Sooner or later the animal passes
into the third, the paralytic stage,
the paralysis affecting at first his
hind extremeties, and his lower Jaw
droops so that he is unable to close
| his mouth.
! ''In some cases the animal passes
| quickly from the first stage into the
third or the paralytic stage; thus
rr-1ao to
bies.
IF a person has been bitten by
dog supposed to be rabid it is en-
phatically stupid blunder to kill
the dog. There is life or death
/ question here which the bitten per-
son should have answered as quick
ly as possible. If not a case Of ca
nine rabies. a load of intense anxiety
may be thrown overheard. If ra-
bies. the Pasteur treatment of the
bitten person should be begun at
once, or at least within a few days.
The dog, if he can be safely CAP
tured, should be securely chained for
Two weeks. And he should be en-
closed so that no other animal may
reach him. If rabies is developing
the dog will pass through the well
marked stages of the disease and
De dead within a few days-usually
much within the 14-day period of
observation.
Another strong reason for not
killing the dog is that certain or
ganisms which are characteristic of
rabies, the Negri bodies, very often.
when the dog is killed at too early
stage, have not developed and it
is impossible for the laboratory
MOTT WORKERS TO answer the question:
"A person who has been bitten
by dog in which there is the least
reason to suspect that he is infected
WIN rabies should apply promptly
10 his physician so that the wound
may be cauterized in a way which
VIII give the greatest assurance OF
saIety; put, even with very thor
ough treatment of the wound in this
way, absolute safety cannot be guar
anteed.
The second step in the treat
ment for assuring the safety of the
bitten person is the Pasteur treat
ment. Rabies in human beings is
so agonizing an affection, and has
peen held as so absolutely incur
able after the first symptoms have
developed. that the period of tenn
porizing should be very short. eau
terization of the wound lessons the
danger very much, but should not
be thought to suffice unless the de-
Velopments during the Jew DAYS.
while the dog is under observation.
indicate that the dog was not af-
fected with rabies and the results
or the laboratory investigations con-
firm that opinion.
IF the dog at the time he in
nicted the bite was known to he
rabid. or IL he develops SYMPTOMS
OF rabies within his period of QUAR-
anime Tor observation or If, in tho
examination of the brain and the
spinal cord the Negri bodies are
found, there will be an absolute
need of beginning the Pasteur treat
I ment as early as possible.
IF the bite was received In
district in which there had been
cases of rabies and was inflicted b,.
a dog OF which no definite informa-
| ton can be had as to whether he
was rabid, or il the dog was prema-
turely killed, the taking of the treat
ment would be the much safer
| course.
The degree Of safety conferred
oy the Pasteur treatment is a very
ciose approach to absolute immup-
itE. The recent improvements in II
nave cut down the death rate from
10 10 90 per cent to l to 3 per tho,,.
sand or persons bitten. Formerly,
patients were rushed to Pasteur In.
stitutes, but. with the rabies vac-
cines as 1t is now supplied by the
reading commercial laboratories
the treatment can be given nv anv