1 12 Analysis of Scientific Books. 



2. That of suddenly exhausting the system by large bleedings 

 and purgatives, as believing the disease to be of a highly inflam- 

 mable character. 



3. That of opposing the poison by the usual antidotes or spe- 

 cifics, to which other animal poisons were supposed to yield. 



4. That of regarding the disease as a nervous or spasmodic, in- 

 stead of an inflammatory, affection, and consequently, as most suc- 

 cessfully to be attacked by an antispasmodic course of medicines 

 and regimen. 



1. To the intention of stimulating and supporting the vital 

 power, the very popular use of volatile alkali and camphor may be 

 ascribed. To the same class of medicines, designed expressly to 

 support the vital power and enable nature herself to triumph in so 

 severe a struggle, belong also the warm and cordial confections 

 and theriacas that were at one time in almost universal estima- 

 tion ; as also various kinds of pepper given in great abundance, 

 oil of cajepuf, different preparations of tin, copper, and iron, and 

 in later periods bark. 



2. In direct opposition to this stimulating and tonic plan, was 

 that of suddenly debilitating and exhausting the system, on the 

 hypothesis that the symptoms of canine rabies were those of violent 

 and rapid inflammation. 



To this view of the subject belongs the exhausting practice of 

 violentand long sub-mersion in cold water; the patient in some cases 

 having been thrown instantly and without warning into the water, 

 and allowed to take his chance, and in other cases forcibly plunged 

 imder the water, and harassed with repeated submersions, until 

 life itself became all but extinct. In connexion with the cold 

 bath, thus persevered in, immersion in warm oil was an ancient 

 adjuvant, and subsequently purgatives have sometimes, and at 

 other times the lancet has been resorted to. 



Bleeding has lately been revived, and carried to the extent of 

 deliquium by large and repeated depletions, and the operation has 

 been repeated almost as long as the powers of life would allow ; 

 but it is by no means certain, in the instances of success which 

 have been reported to us, that the disease was genuine hydro- 

 phobia. 



3. To counteract the poison of rabies by general or specific an- 

 tidotes form.s the next intention to which the practice in this disease 

 may be referred. And from some supposed analogy of the canine 

 virus to the poison of venemous animals, and particularly ser- 

 pents, it has been opposed by the usual specifics and remedies, to 

 which these are supposed to yield. The radix mungo is used in 

 India as an antidote against the bite of the mad dog. Acids and 

 alkalies belong to the same class of remedies. The general suff"rage, 

 however, is considerably in favour of ammonia or volatile alkali. 

 There exists some analogical reasons for this preference. It is 



