September 2004
Dog Days of Summer -- Are They Really Bad For Our Health?
Do you recall your parents reminding you to take care during the “dog days of summer"? Many held to the belief that these specified days were especially prone to cause bad tempers, illness, and discontent among people and even rabies among animals. “Stay away from animals during dog days, they may be mad…”, grandma used to warn.
To give credence to such beliefs, many persons of yesteryear did succumb to fevers and dysentery during the hot, humid, latter days of summer. Today we recognize that those illnesses were much more closely related to mosquito bites and sanitation issues around stagnant water than with animals.
What then are the dog days of summer? A little research reveals that the name given to this particular time of year dates back to the ancient Greeks. Ancient peoples used to see all kinds of animals outlined in the stars. Chief among these were the constellations of Canis Major and Canis Minor, the two faithful hunting dogs of Orion the Hunter. The big dog, Canis Major, or Sirius, was so bright that Romans believed it gave heat to the earth, especially since one can see Sirius rise and set with the sun during late July and August, and early September. Since these days were long and hot, they became known as “dog days.”
Over the years, strange behaviors and illnesses began to be attributed to the special heat and seemingly stagnant air associated with dog days. This is understandable if one experienced a series of hot, sultry August days. A person might tend to become a little short tempered and feel a bit sluggish; more so if there were no air conditioned refuges. We might even feel a little “mad” if forced into repeated close quarters with other hot, tired beings. No wonder then the poor animals had problems. Without doubt there were some documented rabid animals. There still are these poor afflicted creatures from time to time. However, it is disease, not season or weather, that produces rabies.
Thank goodness we have fans, cool places of refuge and blessed air conditioning for our churches, stores, homes and automobiles. With such comforts we can relax and enjoy the beautiful constellations visible on a clear summer’s end night. When the large bright Canis Major comes into view, wish him happy dog days.