472 Mifcellaneous Obfervations on 
having ftated the above; and proceed to draw 
fome inferences from the general recital of 
preceding facts. 
I. That the poifon of.a rabid animal © 
may lay dormant in fome inftances for the 
period of twelve, and even twenty months: 
yet that the cafes related by various authors, 
where canine madnefs is faid to have occurred 
at the diftance of feven, twenty, and forty 
years, from the communication of the poifon, 
may be juftly confidered as either inftances of 
fpontaneous hydrophobia, or of fuch difeafes as 
occafionally exhibit the anomalous fymptoms— 
of an inability to fwallow fluids, and an ayer- 
fion at the fight of them:—The poifon of a mad 
animal has had no fhare in their production. 
II. That the mere application of the faliva 
of a rabid animal to the fkin, efpecially to thofe 
parts where its ftru@ture is of a thin and delicate 
texture ; fuch asthe lips, tongue, &c. has pro- 
duced the difeafe of canine madnefs ; but that 
the infpiration of the breath of a mad animal 
by any perfon, has ever produced this com- 
plaint appears highly improbable, and is not 
fupported by pofitive fads. III. That local 
irritation from wounds in irritable habits, efpe- 
cially when conjoined with a perturbed ftate of 
the paffions; and, alfo violent. affections of the 
mind, independently of corporeal. injury, ,in 
hyfterical and hypochondriacal conftitutions, 
have 
