232 RABIES. 



liar small-celled growth which, not confined to the sheaths of 

 the bloodvessels, is apt to extend into the adjacent tissue. 

 These peculiar and minute cell-elements seem to partake of 

 the character of the ordinary wandering leucocytes. And all 

 these altered conditions are chiefly located, or rather confined, 

 to that portion of the medulla known as the respiratory centre 

 where the nerve-nuclei reside which are regarded as presiding 

 over or controlling the respiratory act. 



Symptoms. — As with other animals successfully inoculated, 

 there is not during the period of incubation any indications 

 which are likely to draw our attention to the horse until the 

 disturbances indicative of the systemic poisoning declare 

 themselves. These are increased activity of the general sen- 

 sorial functions, excitation from the operation of what may be 

 regarded as inadequate causes ; or in some instances the 

 earhest indications of the disturbance have been impairment of 

 control over certain voluntary muscles, particularly those of 

 the posterior extremities, or a certain amount of rigidity or 

 tonic spasm of others, as of those of the neck or back, not un- 

 like a mild attack of tetanus. Yery shortly the state of simple 

 excitability or of impairment of motor activity is followed by 

 symptoms of unmistakable madness and ungovernable fury. 



At the outset of these symptoms the temperature is raised 

 tAvo or three degrees, the pulse rather full and hard, with 

 increase in the frequency of the respirations. The appetite, if 

 at the first capricious, is now gone, and the creature is more 

 disposed to be vicious and destructive with everyone and 

 upon all with which it is in contact. Trifling disturbances in 

 the stable cause it to start, and often with flashing eye and 

 open mouth, from which abundant saliva is discharged, tho 

 horse will make a dash and grasp with his teeth anything 

 which he can lay hold upon or destroy. 



These paroxysms are largely subordinate to impressions 

 apparently conveyed to the animal by actions carried on 

 around him. To everything taking place the sufferer seems 

 acutely sensitive, and rarely is anyone able to carry out any- 

 thing like a careful examination. 



During the development of these symptoms it has been 

 noticed that the part of the body Avhicli sustained the bite 

 receives much attention, at first gently rubbing it Avith the 



