Jan. 1907/J 



SO 



Lxve Stock. 



Post-mortem Examination— It is very unsafe to give an opinion on a 

 • post-mortem examination alone without previous observation, as the appearances 

 may be more or less negative. There is usually congestion of the mucous membrane 

 of the larynx, and there may be infiltration and swelling of the laryngeal folds or 

 lymph may be noticed on the surface. The stomach is generally empty of food, but 

 may contain bits of straw, string, hair, wood, feathers, or fibre with congestion and 

 even ulceration of its mucous membrane and a chocolate-coloured fluid may be 

 noticed. The bowels show catarrhal inflammation. There may be peritonitis and 

 sometimes intussusception. The lungs and the tracheal and bronchial mucous 

 membrane also show congestion. 



The brain is congested and there may be effusion into the ventricles. The 

 spleen may be slightly congested and swollen. Albumen and sugar may be found 

 in the uiune. 



Precautions.— A dog suspected of suffering from rabies that has bitten any 

 person should not be killed if it can possibly be secured with a strong collar and chain 

 and tied, or put into a room or strong cage, as a few days' observation will decide 

 whether it is rabid or not by the development of the symptoms described. If it is 

 killed a definite opinion cannot be arrived at by post-mortem examination. The 

 perfectly fresh carcase must be sent to a Bacteriological Institute for the experi- 

 mental inoculation of a rabbit which takes from two to three weeks before an 

 opinion can be given. If any one is bitten this may be too late for treatment. 



If the carcase is decomposing this cannot be done at all, and no one can say 

 whether the dog was mad or not. It is therefore easily seen that a few days' 

 observation is most important and may save much trouble and Avorry. If 

 observation is impossible a post-mortem examination should be made by a qualified 

 person, and the dog's head sent, if possible, absolutely fresh, and packed in ice to 

 the Bacteriological Institute, Colombo. It is hardly necessary to state that no 

 suspected dog should be petted or allowed to play with children. 



Any one bitten should at once put a ligature round the limb, wash and suck 

 the wound, go to a doctor and have it opened and burned by Nitric acid or the piece 

 cut out as early as possible. In washing the wound any antiseptic lotion may be 

 used that is handy, such as Condy's fluid, Jeye's fluid, carbolic acid and water, 

 corrosive sublimate lotion 1 in 1,000, or strong boric acid lotion. The wound 

 must be thoroughly cleaned from the bottom. A person bitten eight days before the 

 disease appears in the dog is probably safe. 



Mistakes.— Such diseases as epilepsy, distemper, inflammation of stomach and 

 bowels, choking, and fits of anger at being tied up, especially if under sexual excite- 

 ment—irritation of dressings applied to sores, and maternal jealousy may be 

 mistaken for rabies. 



With regard to epilepsy most mistakes are made. In an epileptic fit 

 commonly seen in distemper the animal turns round and round, champs its jaws, 

 foams at the mouth and falls over unconscious for a time, coming out of the fit in a 

 dazed condition. Such are harmless, and not rabies. 



In inflammation of the stomach or intestines the animal vomits all food and 

 may cry out and roll with pain suddenly or desire to lay stretched out with its 

 stomach on the ground differing altogether from the symptoms of rabies. 



In Choking.— The attack is sudden, usually at a meal or while playing with 

 some object and is noticed by some one immediately, differing from the gradual 

 onset of the sysptoms of rabies with the changed behaviour of the dog and 

 probable illness for a day or two previously. Frequently dogs labouring under 

 great sexual excitement are thought to be mad, also some females with puppies 

 become very savage. A little reflection and observation will decide, 



