The Nome daily nugget., 1937-04-15

since fasleur' lhe
 great French sci- enlist, developed his vaccination treat ment against rabies in 1SS4-a treat. ment that since has been used through out the world, and Is known every where as the "Pasteur treatment" But there are still too many cases of rabies. In the months of December. January a.ad February of this winter 1,O57 persons were reported bitten by dogs in Chicago alone. Of these. 2S dogs tested for rabies, showed evi- cences of infection.
 In cities the greatest danger is from stray dogs; in the country districts the danger is from the bites of home dogs that may have been infected by stray dogs roaming the neighborhood.
 The infection In rabies is carried in the saliva of the animal or person who has it. That was established as early as 1913. It Is wound infection. One usually gets 1t through bite. but 1T one already has an open wound and the saliva infected with rabies touches it. one may develop the disease. al- though not bitten. Bites on the bare skin. therefore. are more dangerous than bites through the clothing for then the cloth may soak up the saliva. Bites on the head and neck are most serious. as the virus travels along the nerves to the brain. and these parts of the body are the shortest distance from the brain. have read stories of children attacked by mad dogs where an older person running to tie rescue, and unable to get between the dog and coat or other heavy cloth over the child's head, so that the dogs teeth have sunk into the cloth. Such per sons have done the wisest thing pos sible in the emergency.
 Rabies Is most common in dogs, al though all animals are susceptible. Even birds may get it. The mortality rate is practically 100 per cent if the person contracts rabies and the Pas teur treatment has not been applied in time.
 Fortunately the Incubation period is long one, from two weeks to eight weeks. and sometimes even longer. so there usually is time for the Pasteur treatment to be effective, if the treat ment is not delayed too long. For merly there were only few cities in this country where the Pasteur treatment could be given. thus neces- sitating a long, expensive and anxious trip on the part of an infected person Now, however, It Is not necessary to leave home. Any accredited doctor can administer the treatment.
 When a dog. frothing at the mouth, is on the loose. snapping at other dogs and at children, there Is usually panic in community. Mothers run out snatching their children in; neighbors telephone frantically to each other: If men are at home. they form an emer. gency committee; the police are called It is lucky indeed if someone doesn't use gun. Using gun is decidedly wrong, unless there Is no other way of stopping the dog. Every effort should be made to capture the animal alive, for 1t Is important to know whether the dog Is really mad.
 This is the proper treatment of the dog, according to bulletin issued by the Illinois department of public health: "The dog should be securely chained or confined in safe place and provided with his regular food supply during an observation period of two weeks. The early symptoms of rabies in a dog are variable. He may be unusually friendly or may develop a limp in one leg, or his voice may be- come hoarse and he may appear to have bone or other foreign object lodged in his throat. It Is dangerous even to attempt the examination of such an animal, and he should be oh served by a veterinarian.
 A person bitten by dog should go to a physician immediately. He will clean and dress the wound properly, and if the dog is known to be rabid, he will start the anti-rabic treatment at once. Home remedies should never be relied on.
 It Is estimated that there are 4O,- 0OO,OOO dogs in this country. If we embarked on vigorous campaign to exterminate the strays, and then would vaccinate all pet dogs in infected dis tricts, we could virtually stamp out rabies.
 o Western Newspaper Union.