On Hydrophobia. 27 



frequent ? Ts the infection confined to the saliva? Is ab- 

 sorption necessary to the production of the disease ? At how 

 late a period is the destruction of the part on which the bite 

 was inflicted, effectual in preventing the disorder? Are the 

 symptoms accompanied by a state of increased excitement, 

 or by debility ? 



The limits of this paper will not permit me to enlarge on 

 these interesting topics ; but we may shortly observe, that, 

 whatever may be the origin of the infection, it does not ap^ 

 pear to be confined to any particular class of animals, or any 

 particular country or climate ; that, with regard to absorption 

 as necessary to the production of the disease, it is difficult to 

 form a decided opinion ; for while on the one hand we have 

 the analogy of other poisons, as that of lues venerea, in fi*- 

 vour of absorption, we must observe on the other, that this 

 disease bears a great resemblance to tetanus, where there is 

 not the most distant suspicion of any thing k absorbed to ac- 

 count for the mischief; and further, that the lymphatic 

 glands in the course of absorption have never, as far as I 

 know, been found diseased. 



Could this point be settled, we should have less difficulty 

 in determining the next, namely, the period at which the de- 

 struction of the part bitten would be effectual in preventing 

 the occurrence of the disease; for, were it clearly shown to be 

 produced by absorption, we should be inclined to think that 

 the operation would be successful any time before the com- 

 mencement of the pain in the part mentioned in the history. 



As to the question whether the hydrophobia be a disorder 

 accompanied by increased excitement or debility, it is ne- 

 cessary to say, that, by increased excitement, I mean not 

 only a greater frequency of action in the heart and arteries, 

 but of strength likewise. In some cases of this disease, the 

 symptoms seem to have indicated such a condition; as, for 

 example, the rapid and apparently strong state of circula- 

 tion, and the fierce and unmanageable delirium. Bleeding 

 has seemed to be strongly indicated from these circum- 

 stances, and has accordingly had a full and fair trial ; but 

 the effects have by no means tended to confirm the idea on 

 which the practice wa^s founded. The delirium and frequency 



of 



