SYMPTOMS. — DIAGNOSIS. — TREATMENT. 233 



miizzlo, or against any resisting object ; to be sliortly fol- 

 lowed by increase of this friction, or a furious gnawing at it 

 with the teeth to the extent of inducing laceration of the 

 parts. 



As the disease advances the intervals betAveen the fits of 

 excitement become less and the fury more confirmed, until 

 the state of exasperation or madness is permanent. Often in the 

 last stages somnolence and stupor, with paralysis, are deve- 

 loped previous to death. 



Diagnosis. — The only diseased conditions with which rabies 

 in the horse may be confounded are tetanus, and certain in- 

 flammatory conditions of the cerebral structures. From the 

 former, with which it is only likely to be confounded in the 

 early stages, and where excitation is not a prominent feature, 

 but rather spasm of muscular tissue, it is easily differentiated 

 by the spastic state of the muscles of mastication, the restricted 

 movement or closure of the jaws in tetanus, and the absence 

 of these features in rabies. With varying forms of cerebral 

 inflammation there may be more difliculty, and unless a 

 history indicative of rabies is attached, we may be compelled 

 to wait a little ere diagnostic symptoms are developed. 

 Although both excitation and depression of nerve-power may 

 be exhibited in certain manifestations of brain disease, there 

 is not accompanying these any purposely directed attempts of 

 a violent or destructive character, nor have we wilful self- 

 infliction of injury. 



Treatment. — Considering the experience which has been 

 accumulating for ages, and the nearly invariable and universal 

 fatality of rabies in all animals, it would seem that with the 

 horse, as with other of our patients, the most expedient as well 

 as humane course, when satisfied of the nature of the disease, 

 is the destruction of the sufferer. In the face, however, of this 

 certainly fatal termination, we are justified in adopting any 

 measures which the advancing knowledge of healthy or 

 diseased processes would seem to hold out of hopes of a 

 favourable termination. 



In cases where we are aware that the horse has been bitten 

 by a dog, regarding Avhich suspicions may be excited, every 

 attention ought to be given to preventive treatment. The 

 wound, if seen early, should be well irrigated with water, so 



