THE DOG. 151 



titions so solid and thick that escape is thought to be impossible are 

 easily gnawed through, and an infuriated fiend becomes loose to 

 prey upon the community and the balance of the animal world. 

 Hydrophobia, or fear of water, is never seen in the dog, public opin- 

 ion to the contrary. During my stay at the Royal Veterinary In- 

 stitute of Berlin, I had quite a number of opportunities for observ- 

 ing rabid dogs, and have frequently seen them bury their noses in 

 the dish of water in their cages, in their vain attempts to drink, 

 which the paralytic condition of the muscles of deglutition rendered 

 absolutely impossible. 



As all severe exertions must have an end, so in this disease these 

 maniacal phenomena gradually pass over into those of the paralytic 

 form ; the paroxysms slowly become weaker, and the remissions less 

 and less perceptible. 



The suffering and pitiable animal has become greatly emaciated ; 

 the once lustrous coat dull and staring ; the plump and rounded 

 flanks sunken ; the bright and intelligent eye becomes dull and 

 expressionless ; the tongue protrudes from the mouth, appearing 

 more like half-dried leather than a normal tongue. 



Slowly but surely the weakness extends over the organism. The 

 gait becomes weaker and weaker ; the hind-legs waver from side to 

 side, until finally, overcome by weakness and paralysis, the animal 

 sits before you, a picture never to be forgotten. 



Some lie as if overcome by sleep, but, if irritated, will rise upon 

 the fore-feet and seek to bite or snap at the irritating object. 



The voice becomes hoarser and hoarser, the attempts to breathe 

 are painful in the extreme to look upon, the pupil of the eye is dis- 

 tended, and all natural expression is lost. 



Death closes the painful drama in from four to seven days, al- 

 though in extremely rare cases the battle for life may continue to 

 eight or nine days ; never more than that. 



The phenomena of dumb rabies are so similar to those of the 

 paralytic form that I will refrain from describing them. The dis- 

 ease ushers itself in, in about the same way, but the initiative phe- 

 nomena pass almost imperceptibly into those of the paralytic form. 



This dumb variety, when once developed, is not so dangerous to 

 mankind, or other animals, as the maniacal form : from the paralysis 

 of the lower jaw, such animals are unable to bite ; it is dangerous 

 to mistake this paralysis for a bone in the throat, which is some- 

 times done ; the fluids of the mouth are as sure to cause infec- 

 tion as those from a maniacal dog, if they come in contact with a 

 wounded surface. 



