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Show RABIES ALWAYS DANGEROUS By I. W. Cass, Kansas. 1 During tho past year there havo been many cases of rabies in Kansas and other Westorn stales which has caused much loss of live stock and in several localities people havo been bitten by rabid dogs. This Is one of tho oldest diseases known and It was described by Aristotle Ari-stotle In tho fourth century, B. C. The season of tho year makes very llttlo difference, as the disease la Just as prevalent in the winter as In summer. This Is contrary to tho Ideas of many persons who think that July and August, Au-gust, known as "Dog Days" Is the only j time that dogs are subject to rabies j The dlsoaao J caused In nearly all cases bv tho hlto of a rabid animal, (but it is possible to contract rabies i from the illva. the tears from tho I eyes or tho milk of a rabid animal. Tho rabid dog Is a source of danger a , few days boforo tho symptoms 'of the disease appear, but in no case before he was bitton by a rabid animal or otherwise inoculated. Hot weather, lack of water, or ill treatment will never In themselves produce rabies. The symptoniF seldom develop In less than 14 days a'fter the animal was bitten most commonly three to six weeks but thev may not show from six months-to a year, Not all animals bitten develop the disease, it depends somewhat on "the part of tho body which was. bitten. In man thoro Js less danger If bitten through, the clothing than upon the bare parts of the body, the face being the most dangerous. It Js not uncommon un-common for tho symptoms to develop In less than two weeks when bitten upon !the head. There, .aro two forms o rabies, the furious and .tht? -dumb. "In tho furious form tho dog la. first noticed to seek the company of his mastor more than usual or ho will -sock dark, secluded places. Sometimes- he will make sudden sud-den startH- toward- objects. After a day or two ho will start to wandor about, and will sometimes travel many mlloH a day. Ho Is very- likely to blto other animals, ani-mals, but will often pass horso or man unless thoy interfere, with his course. He will usually return home During ' this period he Is irritable, seldom eat,-: eat,-: ing or drinking Ho cannot drink be,- cause his throat Is paralyred and he cannot swallow. Often lie will force sticks and stones down nls throat in i efforts to satisfy hunger and thirst This period of irritation last two or ' three days, followed by a period of ' paralysis, which Is shown by tho voice i which changes to a prolonged howl. Then the hind legs arc paralyzed and death quickly follows. In a case of dumb rabies the dog seeks his master's company or may hide in dark places, becomes unable to swallow, the lower Jaw hangs down and the tongue protrudes which may swell and turn dark and dcuth ensuo In from four to ten days. In cattle, they arc prone to chase chickens and dogs and occasionally run at man, often falling down, with a twitching of muscles." but seldom biting bit-ing Horses are more vicious than cattlo, biting the manger, himself or anything within reach. Treatment consists of the Pasteur process which must be taken before the symptoms have developed. In order to be effective It must be lakon within a very few days after being bitten by a rabid animal. The "mad stone" is of no use as a prevention of rabies. Tho brain of a rabid animal shows small, round or oval bodies under the microscope called ncgri and have never been found In the brain of an animal unless it had been Inoculated with rabies virus. Wh$n an animal Is.suspocted of having hav-ing rabies the head should be removed ns soon after death as possible, wrapped Jn a cloth which Is saturated In 10 per , cent formaline, placed In a tin box and scaled. In warm weather it should be enclosed -In a box of ico and shipped to tho veterinary depart- I ment of experiment stations, or tho nearest Pasteur Institute Persons who havo been bitton by animals iiuspected of having rabies should bo sent to a Pasteur Institute at'thevery ourlltst moment. |