Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IX.djvu/136

 128 HYDROPHOBIA an accurate knowledge of the symptoms of hydrophobia in the dog. The great danger at present consists in the fact that these symp- toms are not usually recognized until after a wound has heen inflicted; and animals may thus propagate the disease among their own species and communicate it to man at a time when they are not themselves known to be hydrophobic. There are three capital errors, commonly entertained by the public in this respect, which add very much to the danger spoken of: 1, that the mad dog has a horror of water and will not drink ; 2, that ho is lia- ble to the disease more especially or exclusive- ly in hot weather ; and 3, that he always man- ifests a ferocious and aggressive disposition. Neither of these things is true ; and the conse- quence is that a dog in cool weather, who is seen to drink freely, and is not especially fero- cious, is looked upon without suspicion and treated with familiarity; and yet he may be hydrophobic and capable of inflicting a mortal wound, or of communicating a fatal disease by licking an abraded spot upon the hand of his master. It is evident, therefore, that it is of the greatest consequence that the true signs of canine hydrophobia should be recognized at an early period ; for as soon as a dog is known to be rabid, there is but little danger of his being allowed to bite. Babies in the dog may occur at any season, and is not more likely to show itself in warm than in cool weather. Conse- quently all police regulations intended to sup- press or exterminate hydrophobia, which are enforced in the summer months and suspended at other times, fail of their object, and may even do harm by inducing a fancied security during the cool season. According to the ob- servations made by Prof. Key at the veterinary si'nool of Lyons, in France, the number of ca- ses in that district was greater during the rainy than during the dry months. Of 190 cases recorded at the veterinary school of Alfort, during the ten years from 1853 to 1863, the following list shows the aggregate numbers in each month of the year, arranged in the or- der of their frequency : In April, 25 ; March, 21; January, 20; June, 18; May, 16; August, 16; September, 16; November, 14; July, 12; December, 12 ; February, 10 ; October, 10 ; total, 190. The first symptoms of hydrophobia in the dog, as described by Youatt and Bouley, consist in a gloomy and sombre disposition, together with a nervous agitation and disqui- etude, which is betrayed by frequent changes of position. The animal, usually cheerful and desirous of companionship, seeks to avoid his master or his playmates. He skulks into his kennel, into a closet, into the corners of the enclosure, underneath pieces of furniture, and endeavors to escape notice. If called out, he obeys, but slowly and unwillingly, and as soon as possible again betakes himself to his retreat. In a few minutes he is dissatisfied with it, and leaves it for another. Then he goes back to his litter, and takes it apart or arranges it in a variety of ways, without being able to suit him- self with any. The expression of his eye is suspicious and uneasy ; and in a few minutes he is again wandering from place to place. Now these signs, when taken singly, are not decisive indications of rabies. It is natural to the dog, when suffering under almost any tem- porary illness, to withdraw himself from ob- servation, and seek a retreat in some dark cor- ner ; but he generally remains there quiet un- til he begins to recover. It is this desire to avoid observation, combined with an incessant restlessness, which is peculiar to commencing hydrophobia ; and whenever an animal shows these two symptoms together, moving constant- ly from place to place, and searching in every corner as if looking for something which he never finds, he should at once be an object of suspicion, and properly watched until his mal- ady either disappears or becomes distinctly pronounced. The next sign of hydrophobia is that the animal has slight and temporary attacks of hallucination. He thinks he hears a sound or sees an object which does not exist. This condition is fully recognized by veteri- nary experts, although its signs are often over- looked by others. The dog suddenly pricks up his ears and runs to a particular spot, as if he had heard a noise on the other side of a door or partition. Sometimes he will snap at the empty air, as if he were catching a fly. Sometimes he will stand immovable and atten- tive for a few moments, as if he were listening or watching for something which is only an illu- sion. These signs are exceedingly important, and should redouble the vigilance of those having charge of the animal, who should from this moment be kept in a position to prevent his doing an injury. All this time the animal may show no disposition to bite. A rabid dog often varies in this tendency according to his individual character. The evidence of all the best observers shows that a dog, naturally good-tempered and mild in disposition, will sometimes refrain from biting until very late in the disease. Furthermore, the same dog will often show no tendency to bite his master, for whom he still retains his natural affection, but may at the same time be easily provoked by a stranger. This circumstance forms one of the most insidious sources of danger in the case of a rabid dog not yet known to be such. Even the master may be misled by finding the animal submissive as usual to his word, and even to a slight correction, while a second blow or a threatening gesture may be followed by a sudden and ungovernable attack on the part of the animal, and the infliction of a fatal wound. During all this period, furthermore, and also during the entire course of the dis- ease, there is no hydrophobia in the strict sense of the word. The rabid dog has no hor- ror of water, and he does not refuse to drink. On the contrary, he drinks frequently, and when, the disease being fully established, the constriction of the fauces renders deglutition