DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 527 



apply it to the affected part. Among- other methods an empty- 

 walnut shell is to be filled with human feces, placed on the wound 

 and the moxa applied ; then for several days a compound of vari- 

 ous herbs with saliva is applied. A mixture of cantharides, yellow 

 earth, etc., is administered internally until micturation becomes 

 painful. On the top of the head a red hair will be found, which is 

 to be extracted ; all believe in this. They all believe too, that a 

 man bitten by a rabid dog has three chances of dying, to one of 

 living, and insist on perfect quiet during the progress of the disease. 



Prevention is the most important part in practice. Where dogs 

 are kept, every new animal should be quarantined for at least 

 thirty days, that there may be no chance for infection. 



When a person is bitten, the early and complete excision of the 

 bitten part is the only measure in which we can put any confidence ; 

 and even here we are met with a source of fallacy. In the major- 

 ity of cases no hydrophobia would ensue, only about seven per 

 cent, of those bitten by rabid dogs are afflicted by the disease,-^ 

 though nothing at all were done to the wound. How can we know 

 then that the disease is ever prevented by excision } No doubt 

 many persons go through the pain of the operation needlessly. 

 But in no given case can we be sure of this. They get at any rate 

 relief from the most harassing suspense, with which they would 

 probably have been tortured for months. Some put their trust in 

 caustic, but I would advise you to trust nothing but the knife, to 

 which you may supplement fuming nitric acid, actual cautery, etc. 

 If the injury be so deep or extensive, or so situated that you can- 

 not remove the whole surface of the wound, cut away what you 

 can ; then wash the wound thoroughly, and for some hours 

 together, by means of a stream of warm water, and place an ex- 

 hausted cupping glass from time to time over the exposed wound ; 

 and finally apply to every, part oP it some liquid escharotic ; fum- 

 ing nitric acid, acid nitrate of mercury, a strong solution of chromic 

 acid, for example ; the chromic acid is preferable on some accounts ; 

 it penetrates deeper, and gives little or no pain. 



With regard to the proper way of cutting out, the directions 



* Braithwaite. Proceedings of Academy of Medicine, Paris. Statistics of the 

 Society for the Promulgation of Science, St. Petersburg. American Journal 

 of Medical Science, etc. 



