Daily National Intelligencer

ON HYDROPHOBIA

MESSRS. GALES & SEATON:

As considerable alarm has lately been excited here, and in some other parts of Virginia, by dogs running mad, I have to request that you will insert in your valuable paper the following interesting observations on hydrophobia, or canine madness, extracted from a late review of two modern essays on that disease; the one by Dr. Moseley, of London, the other by Dr. Bouriat, of Montpelier, in France. The Reviewer, after stating the celebrity of these physicians, and particularly of the British physician, who has seen more cases of this disease than any other known practitioner, observes, "that both these authors have written at the same time, without any probable means of communication, and have not differed in the principal points or views of their subject; they were also induced by the same motive, that is, by the prevalence of canine madness in their respective countries."

"Bouriat informs us of his deep affliction on witnessing its ravages among men, women & children, in the very heart of his country, caused by a she-wolf. At the same time, Moseley wrote, that in England the disease was raging like an epidemic. How soon similar occurrences may take place in this country, is unknown; and, therefore, that it is very desirable to be advised and guided by superior experience, none will call in question."

Nature of Canine Madness.

"Bouriat says, the poison which constitutes it has affinity only with the slaver of carnivorous animals; for men may eat their flesh, or be sprinkled with their blood without danger. Moseley observes, that authors have differed greatly with respect to the duration of the poison in the system—but he has, from the unerring authority of twenty eight well authenticated cases, and therefore sufficiently numerous, proved, that the existence of the poison has been uncertain, from the period of nine to that of about two hundred and fifty days. He very particularly recommends great diffidence, and never to meddle with strange dogs, which may be lurkingly diseased; he represents also a mad cat as most dangerous, because the feline kind, as the tiger, &c. start at every thing, and may inflict a wound and insert the poison by the claws, owing to the habit of these animals licking their paws; and as for the surgical treatment of the wounded part, it should comprise not only those that are bitten, but those that are slightly scratched."

Symptoms.

Dr. Moseley has described two species of madness in dogs: the raging, and the moping madness.

"Under the first, dogs become lank and thin; their eyes are of a red fiery hue; the tongue is discolored; they froth or foam, and slaver; unexpectedly they start, run against any thing in their way, and will bite indiscriminately. They know no home nor master, and thus are frequently wandering about. They howl and bark hoarsely, bite the ground, gnaw their flesh, and die in convulsions.

"In moping madness, dogs are seen moping under chairs and tables, as if sleepy and stupid. They have dull eyes, sad countenances, hanging head and tail, ears flabby, curved back: they shake and tremble, rarely bark, and die trembling and tossing."

Mode of Treatment.

"These physicians agree as to the speedy mode to be adopted in the treatment of a wound inflicted by a rabid animal; it is its immediate destruction by caustic or by fire, in order to annihilate the poison. The wound requires repeated applications of escharotics, (such as corrosive sublimate, or red precipitate) to keep it discharging, and a judicious surgical management according to its nature and situation. Until an experienced person can be had to employ the powerful agency of pure potash, (caustic), it is proper to burn linen, cotton or tow and even gun powder, on the wound. No internal remedies are to be relied on without local applications; and Moseley says, destroying the part, and continuing the suppuration some weeks are sufficient to prevent all mischief.

"These authors unite in the most unqualified rejection of all remedies from empirics, quacks, or even well meaning persons, who, being unacquainted with medical science, are not aware of their responsibility, when they would waste precious time, and jeopardize many lives by their nostrums, in preference to the certain and judicious means which are actually put into our hands.

"As the work of Dr. Bouriat is not yet translated into the English language, we recommend that of Dr. Moseley, which as a vade-mecum should have a place in every practitioner's book case. He says himself, 'until the late great prevalence of canine madness in London, there were only a few physicians who ever saw it; and that, after it, there was scarcely one who had not had an opportunity of seeing it often.' What warning for us to be prepared against so distressing an evil! In no other treatise of the kind can be found more authenticated success in the mode of treatment, more experience, more of that useful instruction, which, after many ages, has been scattered among numerous books, than is now condensed in this excellent performance of Dr. Moseley."

Before closing this article, we beg leave to repeat the simple but effectual treatment recommended by these experienced physicians:

"Destroy, as soon as possible the bitten part by caustic or fire; keep the wound suppurating or discharging for a few weeks, and the patient is safe."

S.

Dumfries, Va. April, 1817.