| Show Your Health j j And You I EDITOR'S Tho following is one of a series of articles furnished by the Utah State Medical Association and published In cooperation with your local These articles are scheduled to appear every other week throughout the year In an effort to better acquaint you with problems of and designed to Improve the well-being of the people of ANIMALS AND YOUR Animals are man's best but they can also be a potential source pf sickness and infection there are 83 animal diseases which can be transmitted to So it pays to take a few simple precautions either on the farm or when you're out Following are a few of the most common forms of animal infection Rocky Mountain spotted fever is spread by Infected wood ticks carried by dogs and other small The most common symptoms are a severe headache sometimes Antibiotics have proven very effective in treating this If ticks are a problem in your a series of immunizing shots should be taken in tiie spring before the insects become Rabies is probably the best known animal-to-man It can be carried by both wild and domestic The important thing with rabies is to diagnose the disease before its symptoms have a chance to The biting animal should be closely observed to see if it shows any sign of All bite wounds and skin abrasions exposed to licks of should be immediately and thoroughly cleansed with soap and Then you should consult your family Parrot fever can be carried by innumerable species of birds including and wild Its symptoms arc similar to those of influenza and pneumonia and the disease re- well to or undulant fever is found in sheep or and is most frequently contracted after a person eats or drinks infected dairy Its most common symptoms are fever and a general feeling of pain and As in other animal antibiotics are the most effective treatment Rabbit fever or tularemia is carried by field skunks and other small wild Hunters or their wives who skin and clean infected animals usually acquire the dis- case through some scratch or It's a wise person who wears rubber gloves when skinning If any blood gets on the the area should be thoroughly washed with soap and water and then disinfected with alcohol or a similar agent The first sign of rabbit fever is an sore which appears at the point where the infection has entered the Later symptoms include backache and general The best protection against catching an animal disease is to take proper precautionary Call your family doctor immediately if you or any member of your family suspects an animal |
