354 Dr Wagner's Observatwns on Rabies or Madness 



ably attending rabies. I have met with two instances of men 

 being bitten by dogs, and dying from rabies, when the dogs, 

 nevertheless, ate and di-ank shortly after having made the at- 

 tack. One of these was seen to swim through the river Elster 

 on the ensuing day. Another, in the same state, displayed 

 great activity in the water for several hours, in search of wild 

 fowl, until, on a sudden, it ceased to recognise its master, ap- 

 peared to have lost the senses of sight and hearing, rushed out 

 of the water, and scampered away, snapping on the road at 

 every object within its reach. 



Though i-abid dogs are frequently in the habit of gnawing 

 at wood, straw, or hides, snapping round about in the air, &c., 

 such signs are equally fallacious with the foregoing one, healthy 

 dogs being; sometimes observed to do the same. 



An appearance of dejection and shyness, a hanging of the 

 head and tail, running at the eyes, or the fierce flashing eye 

 without this, foaming at the mouth, refusal of food and drink, 

 are all suspicious symptoms, and demand caution ; but as they 

 are attendant upon other canine diseases likewise, they are not 

 conclusive. In fact, experience has furnished me with no 

 evidence decisive of the existence of rabies, except that of a dog 

 running away and recklessly attacking both men and animals, 

 especially those of its own species. No other dog, even the 

 most vicious, when accidentally separated from its master, will 

 attack any save animals of its own kind, unless in self-defence. 

 In a rabid state, some dogs will even leap over high fences, in 

 order to reach dogs or cats which they discover to be on the 

 other side ; a proof that scent, sight, and hearing are still un- 

 impaired. Others will sneak along a wall, or run forward in a 

 straight hne, attempting to bite whatever they thus meet with, 

 but never diverging from their headlong course, unless to pur- 

 sue other dogs. I have observed some rabid dogs which never 

 moved from one spot, merely gnawing at every thing within 

 reach, as they lay, snapping at vacancy, and ultimately refus- 

 ing food and drink, or, if they attempted to partake of either, 

 appearing incapable of deglutition. In those cases, palsy of 

 the loins and hind extremities appears to have taken place at 

 the outset, and to have deprived the animals of the power of 

 locomotion. Drooping of the tail and head, and foaming at 



