520 DOGS USED FOR SPORT. 



sense of numbness in the bitten member. These disturbances at 

 the point of entry of the virus are very often wanting-. 



" The first or prodromic stage of the disease is marked by a 

 peculiar depression of the patient's spirits, amounting to an acute 

 melancholy. The patient seeks solitude, is timid and apprehensive, 

 and either sits motionless and plunged in deep abstraction, or else 

 is unable to rest at all. Some complain of an indefinite feeling 

 of dread and oppression, and sigh repeatedly without any reason 

 for so doing. Some are preoccupied with sad forebodings, or, if 

 aware of their perilous condition, are incessantly tormented by 

 dread of the onset of the malady. Sleep is restless and broken by 

 frightful dreams. The precursory signs of the spasmodic disturb- 

 ance of respiration, afterwards to attain so terrible an intensity, 

 soon supervene. The patient complains of pressure in the peri- 

 cardium, — before the heart, fore part of the region of the thorax — 

 draws profound, sighing inspirations, the diaphragm is depressed, 

 the epigastrium bulges, and the shoulders are drawn upward. 

 This spasmodic breathing is the first token of the tonic spasm of 

 the muscles of inspiration which cause such frightful torments in 

 the second stage of the disease. 



" The prodromic term having lasted two or three days, the 

 second or furious stage begins. Its onset is marked by a fit of 

 choking, suddenly induced by an attempt to drink, which renders 

 the patient incapable of swallowing a drop. 



" The moment the fluid enters the mouth and the motion of 

 swallowing is made, spasmodic inspiratory motions begin ; the 

 thorax rises interruptedly, and remains in the position of deepest 

 inspiration for ten or twenty seconds. During this time the fea- 

 tures betray anxiety and terror, the eyes protrude, head and shoul- 

 ders are thrown back, then comes an expiration, with which the 

 attack passes off. I have satisfied myself that the inspiratory 

 muscles, as well as those of the pharynx, are implicated in these 

 seizures. This combination of spasmodic contractions in both of 

 these sets of muscles, is a frequent symptom ; it always appears 

 in the straining preceding vomiting, as well as in the retching fol- 

 lowing irritation of the pharynx by the finger, etc. Retching is 

 always accompanied by a feeling of suffocation, from the contrac- 

 tion of the inspiratory muscles complicating the spasm of the 



