HYDROPHOBIA FROM SKUNK-BITE. 227 



standers, convinced that he was mad, ended the scene by shooting all the 

 animals in the pen. 



"It is evidently the opinion of Dr. Janeway that the malady produced by 

 niephitic virus is simply hydrophobia. Should he be correct, then all that 

 is established by these facts would be this, viz: that henceforth the varie- 

 ties of Mephitis must be classed with those animals that spontaneously gen- 

 erate poison in the glands of the mouth and communicate it by salivary 

 inoculatiou. From this, as a starting-point, we might go further and seek a 

 solution of the whole mystery of hydrophobia in the theory that this dread 

 malady primarily originates with the allied genera of Mephitis, Putorius and 

 Mustela, widely scattered over the earth ;* being from them transferred to 

 the Felidw and Canidw and other families of animals. And then, if it could 

 be proved experimentally that the characteristic mephitic secretions con- 

 tained an antidote for the virus of the saliva, we should have the whole 

 subject arranged very beautifully ! 



"I am favored by Dr. M. M. Spearer, surgeon in the 6th U. S. Cavalry, 

 ■with notes from his case-book, of four cases in which persons have died^ 

 from the bite of the skunk; and he also mentions additional instances 

 reported to him by other observers. He thinks there is a marked differ- 

 ence between the symptoms of their malady and those of hydrophobia. 

 I shall refer to his testimony again, but pause for a moment to notice his 

 final conclusions, from which, original and interesting as they are, I must 

 dissent. He says: ' I regard this virus as being as peculiar to the skunk as 

 the venom of the rattlesnake is to that creature ; and not an occasional out- 

 break of disease as the wsius veneris of the wolf or the rabies canina.^ Singn- 

 lar as this theory may seem, it is not wholly without support. It is remark- 

 able that of all the cases thus far reported to me there is but one instance of 

 recovery. It is stated in Watson's Physic (vol. i, p. 615) that of one hundred 

 and fourteen bitten by rabid wolves only sixty-seven died ; and of those bit- 

 ten by rabid dogs the proportion is still less. But mephitic inoculation is 

 sure death. Then again it is to be observed that the only peculiarity notice- 

 able in these biting skunks is the arrest of their effluvium. They approach 

 stealthily, while their victims are asleep, and inflict the deadly wound on 

 some minor member — the thumb, the little finger, the lobe of the ear, one of 

 the alai of the nose. How different from the fierce assault of a mad dog ! 

 How subtle and snake-like! It may be remarked, also, that dogs are gen- 

 erally as cautious and adroit in attacking these odious enemies as they are 

 in seizing venomous snakes. But we must remember, on the other hand, 

 that thousands of skunks are killed annually, partly as pests and partly for 

 the fur trade ; and it is incredible that an animal whose ordinary bite is as 



* " Since forwarding this article for publication, I have obtained an answer 

 to my inquiries made in California through my friend, Dr. J. G. Tidball, 

 respecting the Mephitis zorilla [i. e,, M. (Spilogale) putorius — E. C.]. He de- 

 scribed it as a very pretty animal which usually allows itself to be killed >^ 

 without resistance. Bnt he adds that its bite is highly dangerous, causing ^^_,„,» 

 a fatal disease like hydrophobia. 



"I regret that he gives no particulars of actual cases; but his testimony 

 is interesting, as it brings into condemnation a species of Mephitis quite dif- 

 ferent from M. chinga." 



