Hydrophobia

(hi-dro-fo’ ’-be-ah) [ydup, water; (pofiog, dread]. An acute infectious disease communicated to man by the bites of animals suffering from rabies. The period of incubation is variable, the average being from three to six months. The disease begins with malaise, slight spasmodic movements, and enlargement of the lymphatic glands in the neighborhood of the original wound. Soon the true hydrophobic state sets in — it is characterized bytonic spasm of the muscles of deglutition, excited by an effort at swallowing water or even at the sight of water. The pulse is rapid, there is a slight fever, and usually profuse salivation. Toward the end paralysis may develop. The disease is nearly always fatal. Pasteur has proposed a method of prophylaxis, consisting in the injection of material from the spinal cord of animals dead of rabies. 320