184 ANNUAL UEPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



limbs and then to tlio head before death. With the complete paraly- 

 sis of the limbs and head, the only percc])(ible signs of life are the 

 movements of respiration. Death nsnally follows qniekly. The on- 

 set of the general paralysis is usually considered the beginning of 

 the paralytic or dumb stage of rabies. 



PARALYTIC OR DUMB STAGE 



Following the change in the disposition, it may be observed that 

 the dog is in search of a secluded and dark place. He is apt to 

 crawl beneath furniture or furnishings of house or barn, and if not 

 disturbed, die there. Paralysis is the predominating symptom in 

 the paralytic or dumb satge, and as a rule first involving the muscles 

 of the pharynx, then the muscles of the face, causing the lower jaw 

 to hang and the mouth to remain open. Drowsiness rapidly over- 

 takes the animal, and it is difficult and often impossible to arouse 

 him. The paralysis rapidly progresses and death usually follows 

 within two or three days. The usual position of the dog at death 

 is ci ried up as though asleep. The course of the disease after symp- 

 1oms have developed is rapid, from two to eight days. Therefore, 

 if any dog thought to be showing symptoms of rabies is alive at the 

 end of eight days without any noticeable change in the symptoms 

 shown, it is not likely that rabies exists. 



The symptoms in man, cow, horse, cat, hog, sheep, goat, deer, rab- 

 bit and guinea pig may also be described under the stages, of pre- 

 monitory, furious and paralytic, varying considerably in the different 

 species. 



GROSS APPEARANCE AFTER DEATH 



The morbid anatomy of rabies is limited, as there are no gross 

 changes that are constant or specific of the disease. With the 

 natural death of a rabid animal, the general condition of the body 

 is one of emaciation. Wounds healed and recently inflicted may be 

 found. The eyes are usually covered with mucous or foreign ma- 

 terial. The mucous membrane of the mouth may be dry, discolored, 

 blue to black. Where an animal is destroyed during the first stage, 

 the mucous membrane may be excessively moist, the saliva mixed 

 with air may be seen as froth hanging from the lips. The mucous 

 memliane of tl;e iharynx, oesphagus and stomach may be reddened. 

 In the stomach the presence of foreign l)odies may be accepted as 

 an indication of a depraved appetite, which should strengthen the 

 suspicion of rabies. The intestines invariably contain but a scant 

 amount of material. The internal organs are apparently normal 

 but slight secondary changes may be piesent, such as bronchitis, de- 

 veloping catarrhal pneumonia or small hemorrhagic foci here and 

 there, etc. The meninges of the brain and s]>inal cord may or may not 

 be congested. The absence of any gross changes should strengthen 

 the suspicion of rabies. 



LABORATORY EXAMINATION 



The im])ortance of an accurate diagnctsis made as quickly as pos- 

 sible is well known. In many instances, the history, symptoms and 

 gross appearance at autopsy are not conclusive or as is most fre- 



