376 DK. LEGEAR'S STOCK BOOK. 



Treatment. Medical treatment, a Her the disease has become 

 manifest, is of little or no avail, hence the affected animal should 

 bo destroyed at once. In case of a valuable animal, or a member 

 of the human family, being bitten by a rabid animal, the wound 

 should, as soon as possible, be well cleansed and freely cauter- 

 ized. One of the first things to do is to endeavor to prevent the 

 absorption of the virus into the system. This may be accom- 

 plished by complete excision of the part bitten, or by suction by 

 means of a cupping glass, or even by the mouth if practicable, 

 after which the part should be thoroughly cauterized with nit- 

 rate of silver, caustic potash, nitric acid, or the actual cautery. 

 Liquid caustics are preferable, as they penetrate every recess of 

 the wound. At the same time, apply a ligature between tin- 

 wound and the body, if the location of the wound will allow it, 

 then place the animal in confinement to await developments; 

 one month is considered a long enough period. 



If you kill the dog, it prevents the person from knowing 

 whether hydrophobia will develop or not. If it does not mature, 

 the person bitten need be in no way uneasy. No doubt many a 

 valuable, well-bred animal has been killed with the supposition 

 that he was rabid. An antidote for the poison has not yet been 

 discovered, except the attenuated virus of the disease itself, pre- 

 pared by M. Pasteur, who claims to prevent the development of 

 th^. disease by inoculation of this prepared virus after infliction 

 of the bite of a rabid animal. No doubt the prophylactic treat- 

 ment is the only proper one to pursue. Still, Pasteur's method 

 is not as yet universally accepted, but experiments up to the 

 present time have been eminently satisfactory, and will, in all 

 probability, lead to a specific, if not already. Medical treatment 

 consists of nerve sedatives, anti-spasmodics, etc., which are to 

 be given hypodermically, by inhalations, etc. 



