404 HYDROPHOBIA. 



actual experiment that the number of individuals attacked 

 by hydrophobia after specific and competent inoculation was, 

 according to all the testimony he had collected, a minority. 

 But many, perhaps the majority, of tooth-punctures and lace- 

 rations inflicted by rabid animals do not supply the condi- 

 tions of infection. 



Even the bite of a poisonous snake is usually less dan- 

 gerous when delivered through an article of dress than when 

 inflicted on an uncovered part of the body ; and if so in such 

 a case, wherein teeth specially adapted by perforation to 

 inject poison into the flesh, to how much greater an extent 

 may we occasionally assume articles of clothing to be effective 

 against the poison-inoculation of non-perforated teeth ? 



It would seem farther, that surgical treatment excision, 

 cauterisation is almost invariably effective in obviating 

 hydrophobia, though a subject have been inoculated by a 

 creature undeniably rabid, and in a manner wholly unexcep- 

 tionable, speaking physiologically with reference to embracing 

 all known conditions favourable to infection. To be precise, 

 there is hardly a case on record testifying to the accession of 

 hydrophobia subsequent to prompt excision or cauterisation, 

 one or both, immediately following a bite, suspicious at the 

 time, but subsequently confirmed as to its hydrophobic cha- 

 racter, by waiting and watching the issue of symptoms upon 

 the animal. 



This is a deduction that cannot be otherwise than favour- 

 able to a belief in the efficacy of surgical treatment in a 

 very high degree, though, of course, stopping short of actual 

 proof, inasmuch as the questions may be raised, whether, 

 firstly, inoculation was complete ; secondly, whether, if com- 

 plete, it would have taken effect in the particular case or 

 cases adverted to. Certain questions may ever be raised, and 

 never rigorously disproved. A certain large residue of moral 

 faith, if not moral conviction, remains as to the efficacy of 

 surgical treatment in warding-off hydrophobia. Unfortu- 



