Chapter XV 



RABIES 



Historic Rabies has been known for more 

 than 2,300 years, the earliest reference to the 

 disease being that of Aristotle in the fourth cen- 

 tury B.C. Celsus in the first century A.D. was 

 the first to give in writing a detailed description 

 of human rabies. Rabies is a rapidly fatal, 

 highly acute specific disease, to which all warm- 

 blooded animals are susceptible. It is always 

 communicated through a wound, usually made 

 by the teeth, the infective matter being the sa- 

 liva which contains the virus. 



Prevalence Rabies occurs in almost every 

 part of the world, Australia being the only coun- 

 try known to be exempt, owing to the rigidly 

 enforced quarantine. In France, Belgium, Hun- 

 gary and Russia, the disease is widespread. 

 England, because of quarantine and periodic 

 muzzling of dogs, is now reported free from the 

 disease. Rabies occurs in practically every part 

 of the United States. In 1911, Stimson stated 

 that it had been reported in all but six states 

 and there were 1,381 infected localities. 



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