Hydrophobia Health Dictionary

Scutellaria lateriflora. N.O. Labiateae.

Synonym: Sometimes named Skullcap, and locally known as Madweed.

Habitat: Indigenous to the United States, the plant is also found in England on the banks of streams and in wet ditches.

Features ? A strong, straight, square stem reaches eighteen inches in height, and heart- or lance-shaped, tooth-edged leaves grow opposite each other on a short stalk. The pale blue flowers, with a helmet-shaped upper lip, bloom in pairs just above the leaves. Both taste and odour are feeble.

Part used ? The whole herb.

Action: One of the finest nervines known to herbalism, the whole herb is also antispasmodic and tonic in action.

The properties of Scullcap are said to have been first appreciated by Vandesveer in 1772 for use against hydrophobia. Scullcap is now employed, often with Valerian, in hysteria and insomnia, and is reputed to be effective in the treatment of epilepsy.

Coffin prescribed Scullcap in powder, decoction, and infusion, his dose of the powder being from one-half to a teaspoonful. Half a teacupful of the boiling water infusion of 1 ounce to 1 pint may be taken three or four times daily. This herb deteriorates rapidly from age and heat, and it should be kept in airtight containers.... scullcap

An abscess in the soft tissue around the tonsils, which is also known as a peritonsillar abscess.

rabies An acute viral infection of the nervous system, once known as hydrophobia, that primarily affects dogs but can be transmitted to humans by a bite or a lick over broken skin. The virus travels to the brain; once symptoms develop, rabies is usually fatal.

The average incubation period is 1–3 months, depending on the site of the bite. The symptoms are slight fever and headache, leading to restlessness, hyperactivity, and, in some cases, strange behaviour, hallucinations, and paralysis. The victim develops convulsions, arrhythmias, and paralysis of the respiratory muscles and is often intensely thirsty, but drinking induces painful spasms of the throat. Death follows 10–14 days after the onset of symptoms.

Following an animal bite, immunization with human rabies immunoglobulin and a course of rabies vaccine is necessary; this may prevent rabies if given within 2 days. If symptoms appear, they are treated with sedative drugs and analgesic drugs. The main emphasis is on preventing the disease through quarantine regulations and human and animal immunization. (See also bites, animal.)... quinsy

(hydrophobia) n. an acute virus disease of the central nervous system that affects all warm-blooded animals and is usually transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected dog. Symptoms appear after an incubation period ranging from 10 days to over a year and include malaise, fever, difficulty in breathing, salivation, periods of intense excitement, hallucinations, and painful muscle spasms of the throat induced by swallowing. In the later stages of the disease the mere sight of water induces convulsions and paralysis; death occurs within 4–5 days. Daily injections of rabies vaccine, together with an injection of rabies antiserum, may prevent the disease from developing in a person bitten by an infected animal. —rabid adj.... rabies