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1001-1100
The writings of another Arab physician, Avicenna, (Abu Ali Sina) mark a step forward in knowledge about the disease. His books were used in European medical schools for nearly 500 years.
1026
Madness in dogs is recorded in the laws of Howel the Good, of Wales. This is the earliest record of rabies in Great Britain.
1198
Poisons and Their Antidotes, by Talmud scholar and physician Moses Maimonides, contains remedies against bites from mad dogs.
1271
First large rabies outbreak reported. 30 people die after rabid wolves invade villages in Franconia (Germany).
1400
During the 15th century, Spain is ravaged by canine rabies
1500
During the 16th century, Christian Europeans believe a patron saint named St. Hubert will cure rabies. Many travel to his shrine at Liege, Belgium and die of ‘the madness’. Jean Gerson, a French theologian, speaks out against superstitious practices in religion.
1586
Canine rabies spreads through Flanders, (North Belgium) Austria, Turkey and Hungary.
1604
Rabies reaches Paris, causing panic.
1671
Superstitious practices for treating rabies are condemned by the Sorbonne.
1700
Rabies spreads through Europe during the 18th century.
1703
The first case of rabies is reported in the Americas by a priest in Mexico. He is told off for raising the problem by his superiors in Spain.
1734-5
Canine rabies appears in England.
1750
Rabies is reported in Barbados among dogs and hogs. They are said to die around three days after getting sick.
1752
Orders to shoot dogs on sight are given in England when rabies appears around St. James, London.
1753
Canine rabies is present in the State of Virginia, North America.
1759-1762
Serious outbreak of rabies reported in London. All dogs are confined for one month. Dogs on the street are killed and a reward of 2 shillings per dog is offered. The reward prompts barbaric scenes of killing in the streets.
1763
Serious rabies outbreaks reported in France, Italy and Spain. Authorities slaughter dogs. In Madrid, Spain, 900 dogs are killed in just one day.
1768-1771
Rabies breaks out in Boston and other North American towns. Foxes and dogs carry the disease to farm animals. The symptoms are unusual and rabies is reported as a new disease.
1774
Rabies is a general disease throughout England. People are discouraged to keep dogs. Bigger rewards – up to five shillings - are paid for each dog killed.
1776-1778
The French West Indies is invaded by rabies. Cattle and people are bitten by infected dogs.
1785-1789
Rabies is now common across North America.
1789
A New Yorker dies from hydrophobia after skinning an infected cow.
1790-1821
Rabies is common in France and Silesia (now Poland and the Czech Republic). It spreads through wolves and foxes in central Europe.
1797
Rabies appears on Rhode Island.
1800
Rabies becomes widespread in Northern, Western and Eastern Europe during the 9th century. It is common in the Ukraine. There are accounts of European villagers dying from contact with mad wolves, foxes and dogs. There is also a reappearance of rabies in North America and it moves up to Canada. And in England, it never goes away.
1803
Hundreds of dead foxes are spotted at the foot of the Jura Alps, eastern France. This outbreak, the largest yet recorded lasts for thirty years and wipes out all foxes in some areas, terrifying villagers. In the same year, rabies appears in Peru for the first time.
1804
Zinke, a German scientist demonstrates rabies is passed through saliva by conducting experiments on animals.
1806
Dogs belonging to English officers introduce rabies to Argentina.
1810
Rabies reappears in eastern USA and Ohio.
1825
Rabies enters the Black Forest, Germany.
1835
Rabies appears in Chile and kills many.
1881
French chemist Louis Pasteur and his assistant, Physician-scientist Emile Roux, begin research on a cure for rabies.
1883
Roux presents a medical paper about the rabies research he as been doing with Pasteur. Roux creates a rabies vaccine from the spinal cord of an infected animal and tests it on dogs.
1885
Joseph Meister is mauled by a rabid dog and brought to Pasteur. Pasteur gives him the rabies vaccine immediately, despite the risks to his own career as he is not a doctor, but a chemist. The treatment was successful, and Pasteur was hailed as a hero.
1892
Canadian physician William Osler, describes hydrophobia in a medical textbook. He recommends careful washing and treatment of the wound. Osler is unaware of Pasteur’s breakthrough.
1953
The first US case of rabies in a bat is reported by the CDC.
1959
Dr. Robert Kissling developed the fluorescent antibody test for rabies.
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