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Hydrophobia.The period which may elapse after an animal has been bitten, before the disease manifests itself, varies considerably. It is generally stated to be from thirty to forty days. There seem, however, to be instances in which several months have elapsed between the reception of the wound and the first manifestation of the disease ; but it is not probable that the current stories, according to which several years may elapse, are well founded. The fact is, that genuine cases of hydrophobia are very rare. It is a subject about which there is much popular misapprehension and misinformation. A large number of cases of so-called hydrophobia, in men as well as in animals, are really very different affections. It is a very common thing, for instance, to hear this name applied to an animal which acts strangely, and many a dog suffering from epilepsy has been destroyed as a " mad dog. " Doubtless the disease does sometimes exist among dogs, and many people are apparently bitten by such animals; but the fact is, that unless the animal's 'teeth come into contact with an unprotected part of the skin, such as the hand or face, the saliva (and hence the virus) is not apt to reach the body of the individual, since in passing through the clothing the animal's teeth are wiped and cleansed from the adherent saliva. The wound made by the teeth of a rabid animal heals in a few days in the usual way. In some cases the wound is said to reopen when the disease is manifested, or the scar becomes painful, swollen and red. Yet this is not necessarily the case, since hydrophobia may be manifested without any changes in the scar of the original wound. The onset of the disease is usually gradual. For some days the patient is restless, agitated, wakeful, and perhaps tormented by frightful dreams ; he may also suffer from nausea and vomiting. After a few days he may experience a slight chill, or at least a shivering, which is usually followed by fever. The patient then suddenly discovers that it is extremely difficult for him to swallow ; that there is some soreness and stiffness of the neck, perhaps associated with a sense of compression. The throat sometimes is the seat of violent spasms which seem to threaten to suffocate the individual. This difficulty in swallowing applies, of course, to all substances taken into the mouth ; but it is almost always discovered in the effort to swallow water, because the patient is constantly calling for water in consequence of his feverish symptoms. After a few unsuccessful attempts to swallow, which may result in strangling and a sense of suffocation, the patient naturally acquires a dread of the effort to swallow. There is really no fear of water, as the word hydrophobia (fear of water) implies ; the patient fears merely the effort to swallow, because such efforts occasion violent spasms of the throat, resulting in partial suffocation. After several unsuccessful efforts to swallow water, the patient acquires a dread even of the sight of water ; in some cases spasms of the throat are provoked even by looking at water. This is, however, not always the case, since some individuals suffer no annoyance from seeing or hearing the sound of water, so long as they are not called upon to swallow it. In some cases, too, although the patient is unable to swallow water from a goblet, he can take it without much inconvenience from a teaspoon. Sometimes, too, the individual finds no difficulty in swallowing other liquids, such as brandy and whisky, although he may be unable to accomplish the same feat with water. In some cases spasms of the throat occur even when the patient is not attempting to swallow anything ; and a current of air may be sufficient to occasion the same result. Sometimes, indeed, any mental emotion, a loud sound or a bright light, induces violent spasms of the throat. In such patients the countenance constantly expresses anxiety, distress and terror, since they are tormented upon the slightest provocation by spasms which threaten to terminate their lives. After some time these convulsive movements spread to other parts of the body, so that the entire person may be tossed about at every spasm. An abundant secretion or thick mucus collects in the throat, and this, together with an increase in the quantity of saliva, causes frequent efforts at expectoration, a characteristic feature of the disease. The effort to raise this mucus from the throat and to expectorate it, often causes the production of certain harsh sounds which are likened by the terrified friends to the growling or barking of a dog. There is, however, no ground for the popular belief that the unfortunate patient assumes the character of the animal by which he was bitten, and attempts to bite the bystanders. It is true that he becomes delirious, talks wildly, and may even require forcible restraint. He may be possessed by certain delusions, but does not manifest the peculiarities of any particular animal. Even at the height of the disease the patient can not resist the temptation to quench his fiery thirst with water, though conscious of the failure which has attended his previous efforts. He summons resolution, and by a violent effort raises the glass to his lips, but before he can swallow he suffers a violent spasm of the throat, the water spurts from his mouth and nose, and with a look of terror he relinquishes the vessel and the attempt. There is no instance on record in which an undoubted case of hydrophobia has recovered. Death occurs usually on the second or third day, and always within six or seven days after the disease has become developed. Numerous cases have been recorded in which the affection continued for several weeks, but it is evident from their history that they were not cases of genuine hydro phobia. And this leads us to the remark, that many cases of so-called hydrophobia seem to be merely the result of fear and anxiety. An individual who has at some time been bitten by an animal, even though there was at the time no suspicion that this animal was rabid, suddenly conceives a dread that he is about to become a victim of hydrophobia. This belief and fear lead to the production of certain symptoms of the disease, especially the dread of water, delirium, and an apparent disposition to bite others. If these symptoms be developed immediately after the reception of the bite, or, on the other hand, several years subsequently, it may be taken for granted that the affection is merely the result of mental excitement, perhaps of reading newspaper accounts of such cases. It will certainly not be the genuine disease, unless there be marked spasms of the larynx. Treatment. - As has been said, no well-authenticated case of hydrophobia has ever been known to recover, although the greatest variety of medicines have been employed in the treatment of this disease. At present we know of no means of controlling it. The most that can be done is to palliate the dreadful sufferings which otherwise afflict the patient. For this purpose he should be kept under the influence of opium, and in some cases inhalations of chloroform seem to have diminished the violence of the spasms. Although we are thus impotent to arrest the course of the dis ease when once established, it is quite possible to prevent its development by removing at once the poison from the wound. For this purpose the most efficient and only reliable means is to cut out the tissue around the wound made by the animal's teeth. This must be done thoroughly, a liberal piece of the surrounding tissue being removed with the edge of the wound. This somewhat severe measure can rarely be accomplished sufficiently early, since no one but a professional man will undertake it, and the physician can seldom reach the patient early enough to accomplish the object. But there is one measure which any one can do without delay, and this is to suck the animal's saliva from the wound. This may seem a repulsive task, but it is surely not too great a price to pay for a human life. If the wound be situated on a part of the body, such as the hand, where the patient himself can apply his lips to it, he may, of course, attempt to clease it with his own mouth; otherwise there should be no hesitation among the bystanders to perform this office for him. If there be no wound on the lips or in the mouth of the individual who performs this duty, he runs no risk of infection himself. He should, of course, immediately eject from his mouth the fluid which may be thus obtained. It may be well, also, for him to rinse his mouth thoroughly after accomplishing this benevolent work. After the wound has been thus cleansed so far as possible, it may be cauterized with lunar caustic, or with a white hot iron, such as an iron wire, which can always be obtained and readily heated. If it be possible to thus remove from the body the poisonous fluids - and it is only possible within a few minutes after the infliction of the bite-the patient may rest without any anxiety as to his future. It would be desirable in every case, for the comfort and wel fare of the patient, to know whether or not the animal which has inflicted the bite be really " mad. " As has been already stated, dogs and cats are subject to epilepsy, and these paroxysms have been frequently regarded as evidences of hydrophobia. After the infliction of a bite, the animal suspected of hydrophobia should be, if possible, confined and kept for observation, and not killed. If he be really rabid, the animal becomes shy, sullen and irritable ; he avoids the light, his former friends and canine associates, and may even snap at his master. He refuses food, but is apt to eat other articles, such as pieces of paper and straws. For some time he usually recognizes those whom he knew intimately, and may even fawn upon them ; in fact, it is such individuals who are most likely to be bitten, since an animal in the first stages of the disease will, without manifesting any marked symptoms, suddenly change his demeanor and bite the hand which he licked but a moment before. After a day or two the animaFs appearance is much changed ; he looks haggard, his head and tail droop, the tongue hangs from the mouth, and there is an excessive flow of saliva ; the eyes are red and watery. If he be permitted his liberty, he runs along panting, with the tongue hanging from his mouth. He is inclined to snap at every animal, human or otherwise, that he meets, and even bites pieces of wood, posts and stones on his way. But he rarely becomes aggressive, does not go out of his way to attack anybody - indeed, rather avoids a meeting. He does not bark, but utters a peculiar growl, which seems to be due, in part, to the effort to expel the mucus from his throat. At times he appears to be subject to delusions, and to give way to fits of fury, snapping at imaginary objects. Exhaustion and death occur within five days after the development of the disease. Hydrophobia does not occur with especial frequency during the hot weather, but may be exhibited at any time during the year. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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