CHAPTER LXXV 



THE MICROBE OF HYDROPHOBIA 



A DISEASE of the nervous system, central in the 

 brain. It is caused by a microbe. Infection takes 

 place by the bite of a mad wolf, mad dog, or other 

 mad animal. Saliva in the mouth of the animal 

 contains the germs. By the bite the germs, with 

 saliva, are introduced to the wound. 



Thus getting into the circulation, the germs mul- 

 tiply and generate the poison hydrophobic. By 

 the bite of a certain mosquito comes the malarial 

 fever ; also the yellow fever. Precisely in the same 

 way, by the bite of the mad dog comes the hydro- 

 phobia. 



The period of incubation, or the time from the 

 bite to the onset of the disease, varies considerably 

 in different cases. But the average time is about 

 forty days. 



Among wolves in Kussia, where they abound, 

 hydrophobia not unfrequently becomes epidemic. 

 They bite, and destroy the lives of many domestic 

 animals, horses, cattle, sheep, and many hu- 

 man beings. 



The bite of the mad wolf is five times as bad as 

 the bite of the mad dog. Out of every hundred 

 bitten by the former, eighty-six die. Out of every 

 hundred bitten by the latter, sixteen die. 



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