Year: 1874

H1 H1DBUB1OBIAs


How TO Tell when Dogs Are Mad, and


What to Do in Cases of Rabies.


The following timely letter appears
in the columns of the london Times :
During the last few months an unusu-
al number of dogs have been affected
with hydrophObia in the metropolis, as
well as in other parts of the United
Kingdom. From the circumstance that
several cases Of the disease have very
lately occurred in the practice of the
Brown institution, as we'll as from infor-
nation received from other sources,
there seems to me to be some reason to
fear that it is still rather widely preva-
lent.


AS the danger to the public which
arises whenever this is the case, how
ever horrible IN itself, is one which can
be avoided by the possession of the re-
quisite information, it is clearly desira-
BILE, even at the risk of exciting alarm
in the minds of few sensitive persons,
that such information should be commu-
nicated for the general good. 1 have,
therefore, put down in as plain words as
possible what appear to me to be the
most useful criteria for the recognition
of rabies in the dog. In doing so I
have been assisted by the experienced
veterinary surgeon of the Brown insti-
titution, Mr.. Duguid, and by my friend
Mr.. Hunting, of Derby street, Mayfair,
who has paid special attention to the
disease. 1 have also the advantage of
writing with an actual case under my
observation.


Persons are liable to be bitten by mad
dogs under two sets of circumstances {:
first, when a rabid animal escapes from
home and is at large and, secondly,
when dog not supposed to be infected
is caressed by its master or those who
have to do with it at home. Consequent
ly, it is quite as important that the pub
lie should be aware of those slight in
dications which afford ground for the
suspicion that the disease is impending,
as that they should know the character
istic signs by which it may be recog-
nized when it has declared itself.


The premonitory indications of rabies
in dog are derived almost entirely
from observation of changes in its de-
meanor consequently, although they
may be too trifing to be noticed by a
casual observer, they are fortunately
sufficiently striking to arrest the atten-
tion of anyone who is about a dog and
familiar with its habits and individual
peculiarities.


A dog about to become rabid loses its
natural iveliness. 1t mopes about as if
preoeupied or apprehensive, and seeks
to withdraw into dark corners. From
the first there is usually foreshadOw-
ing of that most constant symptom of
the disease-depraved appetite. Mad
dogs not only devOur filth and rubbish
of every kind with avidity, but even
their own Accommodation immediate
ly after it has been passed. Indications
of this kind appear early and are more
than suspicious.


Along with this peculiarity of beha
vior it is of equal Importance to no.
tice that an infected dog, from the
first, snaps at other dogs without pro-
vocation. This snappishness in most
dogs in very striking. If dog previ-
ously known to have no such habit
snaps indiscriminately at the first dog
it meets in the yard or in the street, it
is probably not safe.


So far l have had in mind what is to
be observed in dogs tied up at home.
A dog which is at large is also to be
recognized as in a dangerous state by
its demeanor. A healthy dog in its
progress along a street or elsewhere,
shows at every step that its attention is
awake to the sights and sounds it en-
counters. phe rabid dog, on the con-
trary, goes suilenly and unobseryantly
forward, and is not diverted by objects
obviously likely to attract it. This
statement, however, is subject to the
important exception already referred to,
that it is excited 10y the sight and sound
of al animal of its own species.


OF the symptoms which accompany
the final stage of the disease, the most
important and characteristic are those
which relate to the organs in which it
locates itself-the mouth and throat.
Attention IS often drawn to the cOndi-
tion of the mouth in an animal sup
posed to be healthy by the observation
that it tries to scratch the corners of its
mouth, as if attempting to get off the
ropy mucus which Is seen to be dis
charged from it. In dogs that are tied
up it is noticeable that the bark has en-
tirely lost its ring, and acquires pecu-
liar hoarseness, which can be recognized
even by the most unobservant. As the
disease progresses the discharge in
creases, the lower jaws hang as if par
alyzed, and the animal has evidently
difficulty in swallowing. Along with
this there is often loss of power of hind
limbs. If now the dog is watched, the
peculiarities of behavior which have
been always noticed are seen to present
themselves in a much more marked de-
gree than before. It is observed, first,
that it is subject to parOxysms of excite
ment, In which it makes often-repeated
efforts to bite objects (such as wood,
straw, etc., within its reach, while at
the same time it continues to exhibit
the tendency already mentioned to de-
YOUR its own excrement; and, secondly,
even during the Temissions, its excite
ment is at once renewed by the sight or
sound of another dog.


It may be well to note that the dis
ease occurs at all seasons, that the mad
dog continues to recognize it's master
and manifest pleasure when kindly
spoken to, that it does not shun water,
and that IN many cases from the first 70
the last that wild fury which is common
" supposed to belong to the disease is
consp:cuously absent.


Auo4E,avs Driroo oF WoIeg