Rabies in Dogs. 475 



At the same time, a particular change of appetite or taste 

 is observed, as the animals scarcely touch their favorite food 

 or let it drop again after having it in the mouth. Later they 

 reject all food, although they will chew all objects within their 

 reach, also their own excrements, and swallow them, if possil)le. 

 It may then be noticed that the patients swallow with greater 

 difficulty stretching the neck forward in swallowing, allowing 

 the food to fall out of the mouth, and showing a desire to vomit 

 or actually do vomit. At the same time, the patients repeatedly 

 seek water, but in spite of all exertions they can swallow small 

 amounts of it only with difficulty. 



Sometimes there is also trouble with the voiding of ex- 

 crement and urine, the animals frequently attempting it but 

 with little or no results. Besides, they continually lick their 

 own genitals or those of other dogs and otherwise show an 

 increased sexual desire. 



By this time salivation exists, which symptom subsequently 

 becomes more and more marked. 



In the second stage (stadium excitationis or acmes) which 

 develops in i4j to 3 days, the described symptoms attain a higher 

 degree and the unrest and excitement, probably under the in- 

 fluence of hallucinations, increase to a violent rage. It is now 

 particularly observed that the dogs frequently lick the earth 

 furiously, chew any objects they find, tear them to pieces, and 

 swallow them eagerly. They want to get away from their usual 

 quarters ; if shut up in a room, they show this desire by stand- 

 ing near and scratching- at the door; if tied, they try to break 

 their chains; if in a cage, they try to bite the walls and bars. 

 Once escaped, they will run aimlessly around, and sometimes 

 cover long distances without resting. They scarcely ever re- 

 turn to their homes, but if they do happen to come back, they 

 are usually exhausted, covered with wounds of bites, and with 

 hair disheveled. For a while they crawl about dejectedly fearing 

 punishment and fawning upon their master, or exhausted hide 

 away and rest. If the rabid animals on their journey encounter 

 other dogs, they will attack them Avithout cause or noise, and, if 

 possible, bite them in the head (healthy dogs running around in 

 strange places are mostly scared and run away from other dogs). 

 If the attacked dog runs away in fright, the diseased animal will 

 continue its journey, but if it resists, the rabid dog will fight furi- 

 ously, and it will be observed that, while the attacked dog howls, 

 snarls, and barks, the diseased animal will hardly emit a sound. 

 The desire to bite and the aggressive behavior, are shown toward 

 other species, particularly small animals though less conspicu- 

 ously, and in a herd of sheep or swine a rabid dog may in a brief 

 time wound many animals. Human beings are less in danger, 

 as rabid dogs mostly avoid them and as a rule only attack them 

 when irritated or excited by threats. 



In dogs shut up in cages rabies generally appears in 



