for the Cure of the UydrafhMa. 25 1 



gufts of anger, or other ftrong paffions. No internal re- 

 medies at this period have been infiiled upon, becaufe none 

 feemed necefTary; nor could thev, for reafons afligned, add 

 to the fecuritv. 



'*' The canine poifon feenis to attack the oxvgcnous prin- 

 ciple of the blood, the probable fource of irritability and of 

 life. Hence the deprefTed luiequal pulfe; the chillinefs of 

 the extremities, accompanied with internal heat ; the melan- 

 choly afpeft; thedejeiSlion of fpirits; and the general abfencc 

 of fever. 



** It appears that the hydrophobia may be confidered as a 

 fpecies of fpafmodic a7igina, produced by fpecific contagion, 

 which exerts 'its influence, ift, on the injured part, and af- 

 terwards on the organs of deglutition : 2dly, That the local 

 ftimulus, being propagated to the bram, excites the moving 

 powers of the fyltem into re-aftion; and hence the convul- 

 iive motions which fpeedily exhauft the ftrength, and iinally 

 extinguifh the vital principle: 3dly, That profufe bleeding 

 may prove highly injurious : 4thlv, That the forcing down, 

 large quantities of liquid is a cruel praftice, as it cannot but 

 increaie the fpafms, and exafperatc the malady. 



Indications of Cure, 



*' The chief indications of cure appear evidently to be the 

 following : — ill. To dillblve the fatal conneftion betweeiT the 

 injured part and the organ of deglutition. 2dly, To calm the 

 violent fpafms, and foothe the nervous fyftem. 3dly, To 

 fupport the ftrength, and invigorate the whole frame. 



" To anfwer the firll of thefe indications, much depends 

 on external means, and clofe attention to the injured part. 

 The moment any darting pains, attended with nmribnefs and 

 difcoloration, are perceived, they denote the poifon to be in 

 an aftive ftate, and that no time ought to be loll in profe- 

 cuting the moll vigorous meafurcs. 



" The period from the commencement of thcfe fymptoms 

 to the approach of the hydrophobia is uncertain, and perhaps 

 rarely exceeds five or fix days. To prevent, therefore, the 

 irritation. being propagated to the throat, let the fufpet^ed 

 part be iiftinediately cut out, and the furfacc of the woimd 



duly 



