HYDROPHOBIA 235 



tion, one can feel some reassurance that the malady 

 will not make its appearance. Of course the opera- 

 tion would succeed better in a doctor 's hands, which 

 are more experienced than ours ; but if his help can- 

 not be got at once, let us proceed without him, for 

 here promptitude offers the best chance of success. ' ' 



"I shudder at the thought of that white-hot iron 

 making the wound sizzle, " said Jules. "All the 

 same I would submit to being burned in order to 

 escape the most terrible of fates." 



"If there 's no other way, I would submit, too," 

 Emile declared. "But still I say, plague take dogs 

 for making us have to endure the hot iron if we wish 

 to escape something worse. Can't they keep these 

 animals from going mad?" 



"To prevent all outbreaks of rabies is not in our 

 power, but it rests with us to make mad dogs scarce 

 enough not to cause us too much anxiety. When this 

 malady threatens, notably in the heat of midsum- 

 mer, police regulations require the muzzling of all 

 dogs permitted to go from home. Furthermore, 

 little poisoned balls are scattered in the street to get 

 rid of stray dogs. To these measures of the police 

 we ought to add our own watchfulness; we ought 

 always to have an eye on our dogs, if we have any, 

 for, living with us as they do, they will be the first 

 to expose us to danger. It is most important, then, 

 for us to know by what signs incipient rabies can be 

 detected. That is what I am going to teach you 

 according to the masters who have made a thorough 

 study of this grave subject. 



