352 AI'J'KMJIX. D. 



veiiicMico, while the eoiisequeiicey ru'e certainly ])l•lKllu■ti^ e ef all 

 the safety that ctin be wished for. On tliis inimeJiate pait of 

 the subject, ho'.vever, I am well aware that intense mental dread 

 is ol'ten excited. Frcmi simple lear of the consequences many 

 have died; many others have been rendered temporarily insane, 

 and some jiermanently so. Would I could instil into such 

 minds the unccrtahitij of the disease appearing at all : that is, 

 even when no means have been used ; and the 'perfect seeurdy 

 they may feel who have submitte-d to the preventive treatment 

 detailed. I have been bitten several times, — Mr. Youatt seve- 

 ral also: yet in neither of us was any dread occasioned; our 

 experience taught us the dhwlufc certainty of the 2)rcrent/re 

 means ; and such 1 take on me to pnuiounce they always prove, 

 when performed with dexterity and judgment. It unfortunately 

 hap})ens that these prejudices and fears are too often very deep- 

 rooted, and even immovable. What is then to be done 1 Is 

 nothing to be attempted ? Yes : we will hope that a })hysician 

 may be found for the mind also, in the judicious medical atten- 

 dant on the case ; to whom I hardly need hint, that, in those 

 desperate instances of mental excitement, it is totally in vain to 

 argue down the needless dread and imaginary dangers fostered 

 in a distempered mind ; it is still more useless, it would be 

 even cruel, to be offended or made harsh by them. No one, I 

 presume, would harass himself with fear, could he avoid it: 

 fear weakens the mind, and it is remarkable, that it eiten 

 makes its greatest inroads on an otherwise powerful one. 

 Arguing here is reasoning against fearful odds ; it is, in fact, 

 offering reason at the shrine of insanity ; for a person so im- 

 pressed is, to all intents and purposes, on that question, beside 

 himself." 



