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Rabies.

RABIES.

A strange, yellow bird-dog, having a brass collar with the name "D. M. Beard, Cleveland," was found by Mr. Macy, a farmer of Lucas county, lying in his wagon-box, near the barn, January 3, 1888. Mr. Macy went up to the dog, when he attempted to bite him, whereupon the dog was driven off. He found shortly after that one of his horses had been bitten on the nose.

The same evening this dog was seen by Mr. Enslow, when he had a fight with his (Enslow's) dog. The next morning, January 4, this "yellow" dog was found dead a short distance from Mr. Enslow's house.

This dog is supposed to have been rabid, and the original source of communicating the disease to the other animals.

As stated, Mr. Macy's horse was bitten on the nose January 3d. It was seized with Rabies January 15th, and died on the 18th. Enslow killed his dog that was bitten in the fight alluded to, because he said he thought he was "going mad.”

January 22d, a dog belonging to Mr. Tharpe, living in the neighborhood, bit a dog of Mr. Taylor-one of his neighbors. Taylor's dog, so bitten, was seized with Rabies February 6th, and died February 9th. January 23d, this same dog of Mr. Tharpe's bit Albert James, a grandson of Mr. Tharpe's, lacerating his hand, which bled freely. The wound was healed-no signs of Rabies. The same morning (January 23d) Tharpe's dog followed the team to the town of Lucas, a thing he was never known to do before. they passed through Mr. Robinson's pasture, in which was one of his horses. On the way to Lucas the dog had several "fights" with other dogs.

On the way

The horse of Mr. Robinson's that was in the pasture when Tharpe's dog and the team drove through, January 23d, was seized with

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Rabies.

Rabies February 12th, and died February 16th; and two of the dogs referred to, as having been fighting with Tharpe's dog, died with marked symptoms of Rabies. Tharpe's dog did not return home, and as a dog supposed to be "mad" was killed by the marshal of Lucas that day, it is believed to have been Tharpe's. Mr. Tharpe's dog went freely among his stock, and hence the date of their being inoculated is not definitely known. Though, as above stated, the dog was first known to be diseased on January 22d or 23d-the day the boy was bitten, and the dog went to town.

The next case occurring on Mr. Tharpe's farm was among the hogs. The first one was sick February 8th, and within a week four more were taken. All died in from one to three days.

Tharpe's cattle sickened as follows: One on the 10th of February, and one on the 11th, both dying on the 12th. The third one. sickened February 15th, becoming paralyzed on the 16th, was killed. The fourth on the 17th, and was killed on the 20th, and the fifth and sixth on the 21st of February, and were killed the 22d.

One of Mr. Tharpe's horses became sick with Rabies, February 10th, and died on the 13th.

To Recapitulate: The casualties, so far as reported, were as follows:

Died. Three horses, belonging respectively to Macy, Robinson and Tharpe; five hogs, belonging to Tharpe; six cattle belonging to Tharpe; six dogs, the strange one, and one each belonging to Enslow, Tharpe, Beal, Taylor and Williams; the boy bitten as above stated, but showing no signs of the disease.

The following symptoms were present, as gleaned from Dr. Johnson's report:

Horses. Loss of appetite, disposition to hold the nose in the water, but hesitancy about swallowing; very nervous and excitable; later on a disposition to be vicious—would try to bite; twitching of the muscles of the neck; frothing at the month and inability to swal

low; a great tendency to rub the head. The respiration was labored, salivation, emaciation, convulsions, paralysis, death.

No post-mortem examination was made in any case so far as known.

Rabies.

The following were the symptoms observed in Mr. Tharpe's hogs: Loss of appetite; would stand with nose in water but could not swallow; great restlessness; salivation; trembling; tendency to throw up the nose and to climb up the sides of the pen, and at times would jump up off all four feet at one time; shaking the head; fighting; yawning; would squeal as though being choked; emaciation; great excitability; paralysis; death.

Cattle. Loss of appetite; could not drink, though apparently thirsty; restless; spas.nodic contraction of the muscles, especially of the posterior extremities-would lick the snow; were furious and disposed to attack any one or anything; did not chew the cud; lost flesh rapidly; milk supply diminished; salivation; disposed to bellow at almost everything; would become furious even upon the approach of a chicken; a hoarseness to their bellowing unnatural in health; would hold the head up high; eyes staring; would lie down a few minutes and then get up; pawing; paralysis; coma; death.

The dogs show the following symptoms: Loss of appetite; nervous; restless; excitable; disposed to attack everything in their way; salivation, quite profuse; head down; lower jaw dependent; stupor and death.

It is to be regretted that no post-mortem examinations were made, and that the dogs were not under observation long enough to have noted more particularly their symptoms. The above symptoms were not present in kind, and in the order given in all the cases cited.

In the Spring of 1889 several cases of Rabies were reported at Collins, Story county, but they were not well authenticated.

It may be safely stated that not one suspected dog in ten is really infected with Rabies. There are many disorders of dogs, having symptoms closely resembling rabies, hence it is important, that the fact, whether or not a suspected animal is infected with Rabies be definitely known. The premonitary symptoms of Rabies are sufficiently marked to enable the owner of a dog to protect himself against all danger by confinement and isolation of the animal, or killing it.

There are three stages of the disease. The time required for their

Rabies.

development is different in different animals, being more rapid in some than others, the transition from one stage to the other being almost imperceptible. These stages may be distinguished:

1. The prodromic, or melancholy.

2. The irritative, maniacal, or furious.

3. The paralytic.

The first symptoms are a change in the behavior of the animal. It is uneasy, sullen, restless. It becomes dull, seeks to hide around in corners, under the house or stable, under furniture, but no sooner has it lain down and fixed itself for rest than it suddenly starts up, goes to another place, and lies down, only to move again. Its movements are rapid. There is no disposition to bite, indeed it is frequently unusually affectionate manifesting a desire to be fondled, and especially to lick the face and hands of those fondling it. Frequently there will be noticed a change in the tone of voice, when attempting to bark. It is between a bark and a howl, the muzzle being raised. The voice is peculiar and once heard cannot be mistaken. There is a tendency to lick cold objects; as iron or stone, and to gather up bits of straw, wood and carry away. If met by another dog, to lick its cold nose. As the disease progresses it scatters and tumbles about its bed and is in incessant motion, going from place to place, digging the earth, snuffiing in corners. There is no propensity to bite, is docile, obeys the command of its master, for a moment, quite rationally, but quickly relapses into its gloomy restlessness.

It has a morbid appetite, rejecting its ordinary food, touching only a few favorite bits, but will swallow all sorts of indigestible stuff, like hair, straw, dung, rope, earth, leather, etc. There is difficulty in swallowing and disposition to vomit. Its movements begin to show signs of uncertainty. The duration of this stage is from half a day to two or three days.

The symptoms of the second stage appear only spasmodically. There is entire refusal of all food, a propensity to bite; a marked change in the voice, and propensity to stray off. If confined, they will struggle to get loose, bite their chain, tear their kennel. There

Rabies.

is marked abberation of mind. It will gaze into space and at persons with a vacant stare, and if alone, will sit as if listening for some object, its eyes following it in space, when suddenly it will spring forward to bite. The voice of its master will rouse it from its delusion, and it will answer with signs of attachment and pleasThis peculiarity of unusual affection of the animal, is one of the most dangerous symptoms, because the animal may thus be permitted its freedom. It is not the animal's teeth that are to be avoided, but the pervidious tongue moist with virulent saliva, which if brought in contact with an abraided skin on the hands, is as fatal as a wound from a tooth.

ure.

It sometimes will make furious attempts to wipe off imaginary substances from its jaws with its paws, and if in doing so, it should tumble over, there can be no mistake in the disease. There is a peculiar change in the voice, which is rough, hoarse, short, sharp, and such as is heard in no other disease of this animal.

There is no dread of water at any stage of the disease; in fact the animal will drink water so long as able to swallow, and frequently, unable to swallow, will thrust the entire head in water. The mouth is dry and parched. The flow of saliva comes at the closing stage. An invariable symptom of true Rabies is the impression made at the sight of another dog, which is so powerful as to excite instant fury. If at large, the animal will go as far as it can see another dog, passing persons and other animals to bite another dog, and it will make no noise, but give a snap and pass on. This stage lasts not longer than three or four days, and is the period of actual Rabies. Not all the symptoms given are present in any case, but enough will be discovered to enable any person to protect themself. It is during these two stages that the animal has lucid periods, which mislead the owner into insecurity, yet there is great danger at this time, and the animal should be securely chained or confined with no doors nor windows, for in paroxysms of fury it exerts wonderful powers, frequently breaking very stout chains or strong inclosures.

The third, or final stage, develops the most ferocious instincts. There is an unmistakable change in the face and eye, to that of fierceness and terror. If confined, the animal at the sight

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