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Show RA IH ES IN UTAH In February, 1910, a special conference con-ference of state health officers under the call and direction of the Surgeon Sur-geon General of the United States1 Public Health Service was held in Salt Lake City for the purpose of considering the restriction of rabies, or hydrophobia, which prevailed extensively ex-tensively in the various western states. The delegates from California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Nevada Ne-vada who were present reported the gravity of the problem with which they had been contending and it was agreed that the entire mountain region re-gion was seriously menaced by the rapid spread of the disease. It was recognized that the difficulties diffi-culties of the situation were greatly increased by reason of the hordes of predatory animals which were the principal carriers of the infection. As a result of the deliberations of the conference, the following resolution reso-lution was adopted: "Whereas, rabies is now epidemic in several western states, and Whereas, the lives of the inhabitants inhabi-tants of these states, especially those living in rural districts, are hereby endangered, and Whereas, large financial loss due to death of valuable stock from thiB disease is threatened ' and occuring in increasing proportion, and Whereas, in the majority of these states there is no present legislation adequately supplying the respective state boards of health and other state agencies with suitable authority in the establishment of quarantine areas or funds to carry on a necessary campaign cam-paign against this disease; and Whereas, the police authority needs must come from the state governments, gov-ernments, except so far as relates j to lands under exclusive federal control, con-trol, be it Resolved, that this conference do strongly urge the early adoption by the various states of legislation which will provide the state boards of health and other state agencies with proper authority to establish quarantine quaran-tine areas and with adequate funds for the campaign against this disease. dis-ease. (2) That the authorities of the several states request co-operation from the appropriate federal departments depart-ments in the (establishment of a systematic plan for the eradication of rabies, including the calling of conferences from time to time to promote pro-mote the efficiency of the work. (3) The conference recommends the immediate adoption of the following fol-lowing provisional plan for the limitation limit-ation and eradication of rabies: 1. That the destruction of wild animals devolve on the proper state authorities and commercial interests within the state acting in co-operation with the United States Department Depart-ment of Agriculture. 2. That the prevention of rabies among humans, including the control con-trol of the disease among domestic animals and measures for prophylactic prophy-lactic treatment, devolve upon the state health agencies co-operating with the United States Public Health Service. 3. That the United States Public Health Service be requested to detail an officer or officers to cooperate with state health agencies in stimulating and coordinating local activities with respect to the limitation and suppression suppres-sion of this disease." At the time of the conference the rabies had not invaded Utah but had approached the boundaries on the west and north, and it was plainly inevitable that the disease would soone enter the state. In the absence of a law placing the control in the hands of state authorities, authori-ties, ordinances were prepared and submitted by the state board of health to the town and county authorities author-ities providing for the licensing and killing of dogs and establishing a power to issue muzzling orders, etc., in case of necessity. Unfortunately the recommendations recommenda-tions the board were generally disreg? ...ed, even after the disease made appearance, which occur-ed occur-ed in Box Elder county in the month of March. The county authorities would not admit the necessity for enacting the ordinances or adopting adopt-ing measures of control and as predicted pre-dicted the issult was the extension of the infection throughout the county, coun-ty, from which it spread until now Tt involves eleven counties in the state. The attitude of indifference and scepticism on the part of the public in the face of the facts is difficult to understand and has greatly contributed con-tributed to the defenseless condition exi?:'i)g imd tm- rapid p w of the disease. In additon to a heavy loss of livestock, live-stock, thirteen persons have been exposed ex-posed to rabies infection from the bite of dogs, coyotes, etc., and have received the Pasteur treatment. The state bacteriologist, Dr. L. L. Daines, has examined fifty-five heads in which positive eviaence or rabies was discovered, and this represents only a small fraction of cases known to have occured. A bill will be introduced at the approaching session of the legiala- f ture. in which it is proposed to place! the direction of control measures i with the state authorities. In the meantime, it is again urged , that licensing ordinances be strictly j enforced in all towns and counties, ; and a vigorous campaign of destruction des-truction of worthless dogs be waged. Dogs should be muzzled whenever the disease appears in a community. ! Heads of suspected animals should be sent to Lr. L. L. Daines. State Bacteriologist, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, for examinatiSTi. All dogs known to have been bitten by a rabid coyote should be immediately killed. Whenever a person has been bitten bit-ten by a dog in which rabies is suspected sus-pected the dog should be kept carefully care-fully muzzled and confined for a period of not less than ten days, during dur-ing which positive symptoms of the disease, if present, will develop. If the dog is unquestionably rabid, it should immediately be shot and the head sent to the state bacteriologist bacteri-ologist for examination. In shooting shoot-ing the dog, care should be taken to aim the bullet through the heart so as not to destroy the brain, that is to be examined. A person bitten by an animal proved by the examination of the state bacteriologist to have been in fected with rabies, should immediately immediate-ly 'undergo the antirabic treatment. If desired, the state board of health will administer the same free of charge at the state capitol. Twenty-one Twenty-one days are required for the treatment. treat-ment. The incubation' period or time that elapses between the infection or bite and the first appearance of symptoms of the disease, varies from eight days to one year, but seldom exceeds six months, usually between fifteen and sixty days. The first symptoms in a dog are restlessness and change in behavior. The animal may be more affectionate affection-ate than usual, but is apt to be morose mor-ose and agitated. He tends to snap and bite. The sound of voice is frequently changed. He refuses to eat. Soon difficulty in swallowing appears, and paralysis of the jaws and hind legs appears. The jaw is allowed to hang down and can be closed with difficulty if at all. This is the paralytic or "dumb" type of the disease. In the "furious" type, the dog is apt to leave home and travel long distances, running along aimlessly, attacking without warning, animals or persons who happen to be in his path. Within a few days exhaustion and death occur. Rabid coyotes lose all fear of men, frequently chasing and attacking at-tacking them. |