446 ‘Mifcellaneous Obfervations on 
from the infliction of the bite of ‘a fuppofed 
rabid animal to the appearance of this’ difeafe, 
an important queftion naturally arifes:—Are 
we to confider this cafe as arifing from the 
influence of the canine poifon; or as an inftance 
of what authors have termed {pontaneous Hydro- 
phobia? A variety of cafes, related by different 
writers, feem to prove the exiftence of Hy- 
drophobia, unconneéted with the bite, or 
agency of the poifon, of any rabid animal. 
The generality of fyftematic authors mention 
the occurrence of canine madnefs at the dif- 
tance of many years from the application of 
the poifon of a diftempered animal. It has, 
alfo, been afferted, that the contaét of the faliva 
of a mad animal with the body is capable of 
producing Hydrophobia. Indeed, fome authors 
have gone fo far as to maintain, that the volatile 
parts of the faliva, being carried off with the 
breath of a rabid animal, have been capable 
of producing the difeafe, when received intg 
the ftomach or lungs of any perfon. 
TI am fully fenfible of the caution to be ob- 
ferved, in drawing pofitive inferences from the 
generality of medical hiftories on this fubjec : — 
For an attachment to the marvellous; a blind 
obedience to authority; and arage for hypothefis 
feem to have poffeffed the ancient fyftematic 
writers, who have treated on this malady. In 
order, 
