HYDROPHOBLA. 315 
others feel its effects so powerfully that they are thrown into a temporary fever, and the 
limb on which the vaccination is performed, swells to such a degree as to be extremely 
painful to the patient, and sometimes even alarming to the operator, In others, again, no 
visible effect is produced until they have undergone the operation two or three times, and 
then the disease develops itself fully and with great rapidity. 
A rather remarkable circumstance connected with this subject took place within the 
last few years. A rabid Dog contrived to bite a large number of victims, including other 
Dogs, sheep, oxen, and human beings ; a surgeon attended the human sufferers, and treated 
the wounds by the severe application of nitrate of silver. All were treated in the same 
manner, but although the greater number escaped without further injury, several died 
from Hydrophobia ; and all those in whom the disease made itself manifest were light- 
haired persons, while those who escaped had dark hair. 
The mode of treatment im such dire necessity is fortunately very simple, and can be 
applied by any one who is possessed of sufficient nerve and presence of mind. A piece 
of nitrate of silver, or lunar caustic, as it is popularly called, should be cut to a point like 
a common cedar-pencil, and applied to every part of the wound that can be reached. 
In default of the caustic, a hot iron, such as a steel fork, a knitting-needle, a skewer, or 
any similar household article, may be heated to a glowing redness, and applied in the 
same manner. The iron should be as hot as possible, for it is efficacious in proportion to 
its temperature, and is not nearly so painful in application if the heat is sufficiently 
powerful to destroy the nerves at once. A white-hot iron will not cause nearly so much 
suffering as if it were applied at a dull red heat. 
Washing the injured part, applying cupping-glasses to the wound, and cutting away 
the surrounding portions, have been recommended by some writers, but are strongly 
condemned by men of large practical experience. They say that the water which is 
used for the purpose of washing away the poisonous substance will only dilute it, and 
render it more fluid for the blood to take up ; that the application of a cupping-glass will 
only draw blood into the wound, and so cause the mixture of the poison with the system ; 
and that in using the knife the blood which runs from the newly-made incision is apt to 
overflow into the poisoned locality, and so to convey the venom into the circulation by 
mixing with the fast-flowing blood as it bathes the enlarged wound. 
There are few localities in England in which does not linger some old tradition of 
healing springs, or holy wells, whose waters are gifted with the blessed power of removing 
diseases, or of endowing the faithful applicant with mental or bodily accomplishments. 
A little below Gloucester is a ferry across the Severn, known by the name of the “Hock 
Crib,” which is famous for its powers of healing men or animals which haye been bitten 
by a rabid Dog. If one of these fearful animals has been detected among a flock of sheep, 
the whole flock is taken to be dipped in the “ Hock Crib,” even though none of them 
have been proved to have suffered from the bite of the Dog. Should man, ox, or sheep 
be bitten by a mad Dog, the sufferer has immediate recourse to the healing waters of this 
place as soon as possible after the infliction of the injury. After the ninth day, the 
charmed stream is said to lose its efficacy, and all sufferers from this evil are recommended 
to make trial of this aqueous remedy before the third day has elapsed. 
When cattle of any kind are brought to be dipped, they are forced into the water 
until they are quite out of their depth, and then are pushed under water by means of 
a prong passed over their necks, until they are nearly drowned. This curious treatment 
is repeated until the poor animal is quite exhausted, and is said to be of unfailing efficacy. 
The ferrymen take upon themselves the task of dipping the patients, and it is pro- 
bably on account of their unfailing presence, and the accommodation that is afforded for 
the object, that the Hock Crib is chosen for the purpose of dipping the afflicted animals. 
There are one or two curious circumstances connected with this subject. It is said 
that the disease of Hydrophobia never originates with the female Dog ; and, moreover, that 
it is most commonly found in the fighting Dogs, and those animals which are kept for 
the illicit destruction of game. In Africa, and several other hot countries, the malad 
is unknown, although the animals swarm in very great numbers, and are exposed to the 
burning sun and the heated atmosphere, without the least assistance from human aid. 
