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rabid animals; a pra@ice more rational than that 
which is commonly purfued by more polifhed nations. 
While the fuction promotes a plentiful flow of blood 
from the wound, the faliva tends to blunt or fubdue 
the activity of the poifon; the operation may, there- 
fore, be performed with fafety, and without lofs of 
time, cither by the perfon injured or an attendant, 
provided his mouth be free from any fore or excoria- 
tion: but to avoid even fufpicion of contagion, the 
fuction may be tolerably performed with a fyringe. 
Extirpation.—Of all the external means, the com- 
plete extirpation of the injured part is now generally 
allowed to be the fureft method of prevention.— 
When the accident, however, happens in the lips, or 
about the face or neck, it becomes a delicate point, 
and may occafion no fmall embarraflinent. Indeed, 
mott patients will rather rifque the confequence than 
fubmit to the operation. In fuch cafes, I have occa- 
fionally advifed the more gentle methods already de- 
fcribed, and hitherto with invariable fuccefs.— 
The advocates for abforption contend, that extir- 
pation can avail nothing, if delayed beyond the firft 
day; which is a dangerous miftake. For I once re- 
commended it, and faw. it performed with fuccefs, 
about the 7th day;’ and have lately heard of a re- 
markable cafe where it was undertaken on the 28th, 
and of another after the wound had been cicatrized, 
and pain begun to be renewed in the part; and yet, 
in none of thefe cafes did any difeafe enfue. In fhort, 
if 
