146 RRICHKL : 



neous conditions. This is as impossible as it would be for 

 typhoid fever, tuberculosis, or any other infectious disease, to 

 develop spontaneously. 



Second — The bite must be one in which some tissue 

 destruction has occurred, there should be a lessened continuity 

 of the part, which gives a ready access to the virus. Experi- 

 mentally it has been shown that rabbits which are shaven and 

 exposed to the bite of a mad dog are more often infected than 

 those bitten through the fur, even when the teeth penetrate 

 deeply beneath the skin. The teeth are wiped dry of the 

 saliva ; therefore, a bite through clothing is not so dangerous 

 as one directly on the skin. 



Third — Danger is lessened if any one of the following or 

 similar precautions be taken imniediaiely after the bite is 

 inflicted: A tourniquet may be applied around the limb to 

 prevent absorption. The wound may be wrung to increase 

 the flow of blood, cauterized with silver nitrate or any of the 

 mineral acids. 



It has been conservatively estimated that in man, where 

 none of the above precautions had been taken, 16 per cent, 

 develop rabies. Some series of cases show a much higher 

 mortality. The mortality from bites of wolves with rabies is 

 given from 60 to 80 per cent., as already stated, probably due 

 to the severe bites this animal usually inflicts. Of dogs 

 bitten by rabid dogs only 20 to 30 per cent, develop the dis- 

 ease. In cows bitten by rabid dogs the mortality is very 

 much higher, 60 to 80 per cent. The time of the year or 

 climate have no influence on the prevalence of the disease. 

 The opinion is firm with many people that dogs are more 

 liable to go mad during the so called dog days, which extend 

 from the first of July to the middle of August. 



vStatistics show that the disease is prevalent throughout the 

 year and seasons ha\-e very little influence. 



Symploiiis ill /hos. — In dogs, as in other animals, rabies 

 is manifested in the furious, and the dumb or ]-)aralytic form. 



