Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 August 1891 — IN CASE OF A DOG’S BITE. [ARTICLE]

IN CASE OF A DOG’S BITE.

Pasteur’s American Representative Tells What Yon Should Do. Dr. Paul Gibier, in Ladies' Home Journal. If you are unfortunate enough tc be bitten by a dog waste no time in sending for a physician. But the wound requires instant attention. First wash it immediately with clean, tepid water. If this is not readily obtainable clean water of any temperature will answer. This will do until a physician arrives. If you should be so situated that a physician cannot attend upon you, then act: After flushing out the wound with clean water, apply, by meahs of a glass dropper, a powerful antiseptic. 1 regard peroxide of hydrogen (medicinal) as the best compound. Don’t cauteeize. In my opinion it is a needlessly painful operation, and Is very seldom accomplished soon enough to prevent the dydrophobic infection from taking place. Having applied ~the (peroxide of hydrogen) to the sore, thke care not to remove the white foam that will be generated. Let it remain until it disappears, Which It will do in a few minutes. This being done a compress of absorbent cotton soaked in the peroxide of hydrogen, should be laid over the sore, with an over-covring of oiled silk. Twice every day the wound should be dressed in the same mannei, with the exception that the peroxide of hydrogen, instead of being used full strength, should be diluted, half and half, with clean water-tepid or filtered water being preferable. The subsequent treatment depends upon the condition of the dog that inflicted the wound. Don’t kill the animal unless it shows evident symptoms of hydrophobia. Have it placed securely in a safe place. If, at the expiration of one week, or not more than two weeks, it has not shown any abnormal symptoms, tbe patient need not fear. If, on the contrary, the animal 'sickens and dies, the patient should be treated by the Pasteur method as quickly as possible. The sooner the better. At the same time, the contents of the dog’s stomach and a portion of its spinal marrow, in glicerine, should be sent to the Pasteur Institute, No. Itß West Tenth street, New York city, where experiments may decide whether the animal died with hydrophobia or not. Should the animal have been shot or otherwise killed, it is advisable that the patient should submit at once to the Pasteur treatment, foi two reasons: First, because it is harmless; second, because its efficacy has been proved beyond a doubt, over fifteen thousand persons having been inoculated since Pasteur's discovery. ‘'Y „ ■ In ease the animal remains in gooc health, it is unnecessary that the pa tient submit to inoculation.