518 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. DoO. 



Pseudo-Ri/drnpJwUa^ or Lyssophohia. It is to be regretted that 

 the opinion is so widespread, even among some physicians, that 

 fright following the bite of a dog can bring about symptoms of 

 hydrophobia, followed by death. It cannot be denied that such 

 symptoms do sometimes occur in persons bitten by dogs known to 

 be free from hydropliobia, but the writer lias failed to find reliable 

 report of any death in such cases. Recovery usually takes place in 

 a few days under very simple treatment, though the symptoms some- 

 times persist for a considerable time, ending, however, in complete 

 recovery. 



Can Rahic'S or Ilydrophohia Arise Spontaneously? It is sup- 

 posed by some persons that rabies can be produced by fright, fatigue, 

 anger, jealousy, high feeding, excessive heat and other influences — • 

 an error which was pointed out by Virchow in Germany many years 

 ago. 



After wliat has been said of the nature of the virus it is manifest 

 that this is impossible. Each case of rabies is due to contagion from 

 some other case just as truly as each case of measles or scarlet fever 

 in children is due to the germ from some other case gaining entrance 

 to the system. Kabies cannot arise of itself from any cause. 



Dog Days. The belief that dogs are particularly apt to go mad 

 during the so-called dog-days is shown by the law, still enforced iu 

 some places, requiring the muzzling of dogs during this period. 

 As has been shown in another part of this article, rabies occurs 

 during every month of the year. 



The term "dogs days" refers to the "dog star," Sirius, and was 

 originally ajjplied to the period of time during which the dog star 

 was above the horizon with the sun. At present they are usually 

 reckoned from July 3 to August 31, inclusive. Dogs are not more 

 liable to go mad during this period than at other times. 



Rabies in Man. The course of the disease in man may be divided 

 into three stages, a premonitory stage, a stage of excitement and 

 a paralytic stage. 



In the first stage there is usually irritation about the point of in- 

 oculation, or else pain, numbness or a tingling sensation; depression 

 and melancholy are observed, the disposition becomes irritable, and 

 there is a sense of great fatigue with restlessness and often a feel- 

 ing of impending danger; the sensibilities are increased, noise or 

 light causing distress. The first difficulty in swallowing may ap- 

 pear. During this stage the voice becomes husky. The pulse and 

 temperature are increased. 



In the second stage the chief symptoms are great excitability and 

 restlessness, and hyperaesthesia is marked: "Any efferent stimu- 

 lant — i. e., a sound or a draught of air, or the mere association of 

 a verbal suggestion— will cause a violent reflex spasm. In man this 



