464 THE IMPROVED ART OF FARRIERY. 



case in the metropolis till the one above alluded to. 

 In many hot climates the disease is unknown, and it 

 has raged among us in the coldest weather. 



" In 1838, I had no less than forty-eight cases under 

 treatment, this year I have not had one. 



" My predecessors, Messrs. Blaine and Youatt, as 

 well as myself, have been bitten by rabid dogs, and 

 we are still alive ; and we have operated on some 

 hundreds of human beings who have been bitten by 

 rabid animals, and in no case has there been loss of 

 life. The preventative is as follows : — 



" The person bitten should, as soon as possible, 

 thoroughly wash and cleanse the bitten part, not suck 

 the poison from the wound, as is too commonly done, 

 for inoculation may take place by an abrasion on the 

 lip. If the wound be superficial and ragged, let the 

 edges be removed with a pair of scissors, and then 

 apply freely to every part the nitrate of silver, com- 

 monly called lunar caustic, and which may be had in 

 any druggist's shop. If the wound be a punctured one, 

 as in some cases it is, from the tusk of the animal going 

 deep into the flesh, the stick of caustic must be carefully 

 pointed that it may reach the bottom ; if necessary, 

 the wound should be enlarged, care being taken in the 

 use of the knife, or the poison may be carried by it 

 over the fresh surface. The nitrate of silver com- 

 pletely destroys the surface of the wound, and neu- 

 tralises the poison, which comes away with the de- 

 stroyed surface without the absorbents acting upon it, 

 and if freely apphed to the part affected, the patient 

 may feel himself perfectly safe. I do not recommend 

 the apphcation of a poultice after the operation, but 

 let the wound be ' exposed to the atmosphere, and 

 should any inflammation ensue, it may be reUeved by 

 dressmgs of olive oil. Believing that some lives may 



