158 BABIES. 



before this symptom appears. There is great difficulty in swallowing, and 

 the poor dog will plunge his muzzle into the water up to the very eyes in 

 order that he may get one drop into the bach part of his mouth to cool 

 his parched throat. It is in this form of rabies that frothing is observed, 

 the flow of mucus and saliva in abundance dripping from the open mouth. 

 The voice changed and of a hoarse tone, is seldom heard, and that pecu- 

 liar combination of bark and howl, characteristic of the violent form of 

 the disease, is entirely absent. 



Death in the dumb form of rabies results more quickly, life being but 

 rarely prolonged more than two or three days. The appearance of the 

 eyes, and generally haggard and depressed look marking the derange- 

 ment of the brain, the loss of appetite, the rapid emaciation and paralysis, 

 arc symptoms resembling much those seen in the violent attack. 



Both forms of the disease have appeared in the same kennels, and at 

 the same time ; inoculation from dogs suffering from the one variety may 

 give rise to either violent or dumb madness. 



Diagnosis. —In some cases of rabies a diagnosis will be difficult, while 

 in others the signs will be sufficiently pronounced to render the task 

 easier. It is to be remembered that but few animals can compare with 

 the dog in intelligence and high mental development, that he possesses a 

 sensitive and easily excited nature and is extremely liable to contract 

 nervous derangements and diseases. This fact is demonstrated by the 

 frequent occurrence of convulsions, chorea, and kindred disorders. Again 

 it is more than probable that the study of canine ailments will yet prove 

 to observers the existence in dogs of mental diseases, at present over- 

 looked and unsuspected. 



When an animal presents certain symptoms which are known to appear 

 in rabies, all, the medical men by no means excepted, are much too ready 

 to jump at conclusions, and condemn to execution a poor animal as rabid, 

 when he may be suffering from either meningitis, epilepsy, severe pain, 

 excessive fear, neuralgia, staiwation, toothache, parasites in the nasal 

 cavity, acute otitis, disease of the kidneys, or some disturbance of the 

 brain of which at present we have no knowledge. Nor must we forget the 

 action of certain irritant poisons which when swallowed cause intense 

 inflammation of the throat, stomach, and intestines. 



Few there are who have not seen dogs in a state of delirium caused by 

 the action of the intense heat of the sun. Others doubtless have witnessed 

 the extreme mental disturbance of a bitch deprived of her whelps, and 

 the distress and efforts of an animal to free himself from restraint in a 

 new home, and return to his old master and those he loves. 



Some readers will naturally observe that to mistake for rabies many of 

 the diseases referred to must be impossible, and yet such errors are more 



