396 HYDKOPHOBIA. 



phobia does not take effect when swallowed, as various ex- 

 periments testify. 



Though probably all warm-blooded creatures, at least, are 

 susceptible of hydrophobic poisoning, yet it is still doubtful 

 whether the number of warm-blooded species which can com- 

 municate it by salivary inoculation be or be not limited. The 

 usual opinion as to this matter amongst physiologists is, that 

 only the dog, cat, wolf, and fox can communicate hydrophobia 

 through the saliva. 



Although, as already stated, the blood of hydrophobic 

 animals can be made to convey the disease by inoculation, yet 

 saliva is the normal fluid of hydrophobic propagation. Here 

 we find a certain adherence by nature to latent types ; a fact 

 well known to physiologists, the comparative anatomists, and 

 botanists, but not generally heeded. Inasmuch as the typical 

 idea is more easy of rudimentary illustration through botani- 

 cal than anatomical or physiological examples, I will adopt a 

 botanical exposition. 



The natural tribe Cucurbitacece, the cucumber family, sup- 

 plies the example needed. Passing the chief members of the 

 cucumber tribe under mental review, a certain tendency will 

 be recognised throughout the whole family to the secretion of 

 a bitter, a more or less acrid and poisonous principle. In the 

 colocynth, or bitter apple, the principle in question assumes 

 its maximum of bitterness ; in the elaterium its maximum of 

 poisonous acridity. In the melon and cucumber the acrid 

 and poisonous principles sink to their minimum ; so that we 

 enjoy the luscious melon and the cooling cucumber, heedless 

 that both have suspicious belongings, that both appertain to 

 the suspicious and, upon the whole, poisonous family Cucur- 

 bitacece. Nevertheless melons, and still more frequently 

 cucumbers, degenerate sometimes; sometimes reveal the old 

 Satan that has entered into their nature. 



It has happened to most of us to meet with a bitter 

 cucumber when we little expected to do so. It would seem 



