History and Vectors of Rabies Essay -- Medical Disease

History and Vectors of Rabies Literally meaning â€Å"madness and fury†, rabies is commonly recognized by the characteristic foaming of the mouth and wild behavior. However, this is only the tip of the iceberg. This disease is spread through the saliva of infected carriers. Rabies is a viral disease that targets the nervous system which is always fatal with the exception of a single case. Natural remedies and spiritual therapies were used in hopes of warding away this fatal disease until the discovery of vaccination revolutionized medicine. This mysterious virus has a very unique history dating back to the first civilizations. The earliest mentioning of rabies in the past is a set of documents existing back as early as 2300 B.C. These legal documents explained the penalty when an owner’s pet caused any deaths resulting from the animal’s bite (Alan 1). This is the first written document acknowledging the existence of rabies. Pre-Socratic philosophers had discussed the â€Å"seed of disease† which gave the people a greater understanding on diseases in general. Well known philosophers and doctors, such as Hippocrates, Aristotle, Democritus, Celsus, Galen, and Pliny, discussed the nature of rabies during their eras but were commonly dismissed due to the insignificance of science at the time, people would often would overlook the complexity of this virus. The Roman doctor Celsus focused on the effect of rabies on humans during the first century A.D., especially prophylaxis and hydrophobia (Alan 2). He focused on treating this disease, although he admitted that there was â€Å"very little hope for the sufferer† once the extreme symptoms had revealed themselves (Alan 3). His treatment included cauterizing and bleeding the wound in order to allow t... ...and of the future discover an effective cure. As for now, there are still numerous breakthroughs to be discovered. Works Cited Jackson, Alan C., and William H. Wunner. Rabies. London: Elsevier Science, 2002. Kaplan, Colin, et al. Rabies the Facts. Ed. Colin Kaplan. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1977. MMWR Dispatch. â€Å"Investigation of Rabies Infections in Organ Donor and Transplant Recipients.† Morbidity and Mortality Weekly 53.26 (July 2004): 586-589. 24 July 2007 . West, Geoffrey P. Rabies in Animals and Man. Ed. Newton Abbot. Great Britain: David & Charles Limited, 1972. Willoughby, Rodney E, Jr, et al. â€Å"Survival after Treatment of Rabies with Induction of Coma.† Survival after Treatment of Rabies with Induction of Coma 24 ser. 352.2508-2514 (June 2005). The New England Journal of Medicine. 22 July 2007 .