RABIES AND HYDROPHOBIA. 



Synonyms. Definition : Acute, infectious, cerebral disease, of domestic 

 and wild carnivora, shown by intellectual, emotional, and aggressive nervous 

 disorder, and extreme nervous excitability. Animals susceptible : canine 

 and feline animals, biting animals and those bitten, of all warm blooded 

 kinds ; receptivity greatest in carnivora. Geographical distribution : where 

 population is most dense, trade and movement most active — north temper- 

 ate zone. Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Azores, St. Helena immune- 

 protected by quarantine. Islands in Elbe, places with enforced muzzling. 

 Causes : contagion : inoculation ; rutting ; skunk bites ; absence of flowing 

 robes (men, children). Virulent matters : saliva, bronchial mucus, flesh, 

 blood (not in sheep?), milk, (in advanced stages), nerve tissue. Morbific 

 agent particulate ; filtered liquid noninfecting : blastomyces, bacillus, found 

 but not uniformly : claims of brain symptoms from each. Viability ; saliva 

 virulent for n days ; brain 3 weeks at 32° to 63° F., for months aseptic and 

 in contact with carbon dioxide ; water 20 to 38 days ; body in grave 44 days ; 

 virulence lost by drying in thin layer yet kennels remain long infecting ; 

 glycerine preserves ; robbed of virulence by iodine, citric acid, bromine, 

 chlorine, sulphurous and mineral acid and cupric sulphate. Bites of men 

 effective to 50 per cent., protection by clothes, wool, flow of blood, cleaning 

 of teeth by succession of bites. Infection by licking, sneezing, coughing, 

 inhaling, feeding. Incubation 15 to 60 days in dog, 20 to 45 days in horse, 

 14 to 60 days in sheep, swine and cattle, 14 to 64 days in man. Prolonged 

 cases doubtful. Symptoms in dogs : change in disposition, more amiable 

 or morose, dull, apathetic, excitable, unwonted silence or howling, restless, 

 depraved appetite, swallowing small objects, searching, tearing sticks or 

 clothes, licking cold stone or genital organs, hiding in dark corner, dull 

 expression, irritation where bitten, hoarse voice, rabid howl, eyes follow 

 unreal objects, snaps at them, listens for unreal sounds, irritability, fury 

 when threatened with stick or shown another dog, bites without growl, 

 bears master's blow in silence, eyes red, fixed, pupils dilated, squinting, 

 lonely wandering, biting, swimming rivers ; restless excitement alternates 

 with torpor and seclusion, slouching gait when worn out ; in paralytic form ; 

 weakness, paresis, palsv of lower jaw, hind limbs, body, dull, prostrate, 

 apathetic ; in lethargic form ; no fury nor paralysis, but profound prostra- 

 tion and apathy, no coaxing, threat, punishment not even another dog will 

 rouse. Paralytic and apathetic forms wind up the furious ; cases with in- 

 termittent attacks. Diagnosis : by marked change of disposition or habit, 

 voice, appetite, any hypersesthesia, strabismus, watching or snapping at 

 unreal objects, taciturnity, fury in presence of other dog or stranger, snap- 

 ping, biting without giving voice, fury when threatened with stick, open 

 mouth without disposition to paw it, lack of muscular coordination, paresis, 

 paralysis. Distinction from lactation anaemia, bone in palate or throat, 

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