f<5 On Hydrophohla. 



case of it, can scarcely afterwards be at a loss to distinguish 

 another. As the disease draws towards a conclusion, the 

 intellectual faculties, which had before remained wonderfully 

 perfect, give way, the patient being affected with delirium 

 of the fiercest and most unmanageable kind, especially du- 

 ring the paroxysms of convulsion, which become so fre- 

 quent as scarcely to have any interval. 



The strength is at length exhausted; the pulse is extremely 

 smalJ, weak, quick, and intermitting ; cold clammy sweats 

 supervene; the countenance is somewhat livid and fright- 

 fully distorted; and in this state a general return of convul- 

 sion puts an end to one of the most melancholy and affect- 

 ing scenes that the human mind can well form an idea of. 

 This fatal termination happens most commonly about the 

 end of the third day from the first attack, though it has 

 sometimes occurred as early as the seeond, and at other 

 times as late as the fourth day. 



No anatomical examination that has hitherto been made 

 on this subject, seems to have thrown any light upon it. 

 Different parts of the fauces, pharynx, and oesophagus have 

 been frequently found slightly inflamed, probably owing to 

 the exertions to which these parts are subjected in the course 

 of the disease. The lungs have also been generally found 

 distended with blood, and in some cases the vessels of the 

 brain likewise ; both of which may be supposed to depend 

 on the irregular action of the heart. The only disease with 

 which this is likely to be confounded is tetanus ; the painful 

 and difficult deglutition, witri the convulsive paroxysms, being 

 common to both ; but the continued stiffness of the jaws, 

 or the spasm of the muscles by which the jaws are kept 

 fixed, which is essential to tetanus, will at once lead to a 

 satisfactory distinction, independent of the circumstances of 

 infection, which we always annex to hydrophobia. 



With regard to the theory of this disease, there are several 

 important questions which naturally present themselves for 

 consideration, each requiring a separate and perhaps exten- 

 sive discussion, viz., To what is the origin of the infection 

 to be ascribed ? To what animals is it confined ? Is any 

 country exempted from it, and in what climates is it most 



1 frequent ? 



