On Hydrophobia. 55 



frequently excited to it by thirst, the greatest agitation and 

 horror are produced, with an apparently strong convulsive 

 affection of the pharynx and oesophagus, difficulty of breath- 

 ing, tremor, great anxiety and impatience, and remarkable 

 quickness of circulation. 



The patient is not so much agitated by the sight of solids 

 or fluids in the early state of the disease, as is commonly 

 imagined ; watery liquors being sometimes carried to tho 

 mouth with fortitude and composure ; but, immediately on 

 touching the lips, are rejected with a violent and frightful 

 agitation, the mind being at that time more particularly 

 conscious of the inability of swallowing. 



Solids are, notwithstanding, in some cases, got down, 

 -even in the advanced stage of the disease, but never without 

 pain and agitation, being thrust into the mouth in a pecu- 

 liar hurried and greedy manner, and invariably exciting or in- 

 creasing the convulsions, which constitute so formidable a 

 part of the disease. 



After these symptoms have continued 12, 18, or 24 hours 

 (the progress being somewhat different in different cases), 

 the disorder puts on the most distressing and melancholy 

 appearance ; the convulsive attacks, which were before ex- 

 cited chiefly by the attempt to swallow, now occur spon- 

 taneously every 10 or 15 minutes, the whole body being so 

 violently agitated as to require several assistants to support 

 the patient. The countenance is wild, the eyes red and 

 staring, and large drops of sweat pour from the head and face. 

 In the intervals of these paroxysms, the miserable sufferer 

 becomes somewhat composed, complains of an uneasy sen- 

 sation across the breast, and also in the throat, often ascrib- 

 ing it to wind, and wondering that he is not able to dis^ 

 charge it, so as to obtain relief. 



The secretion of saliva is now much increased, but of 

 such a thick viscid quality, that the patient is obliged to 

 exert considerable force to discharge it from his mouth. The 

 manner of doing this, and the frequency with which it is 

 repeated, joined to the peculiar anxious state of the coun- 

 tenance already mentioned, so strongly characterize the 

 disease, that the most superficial observer, having seen one 



case 



