224 



CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 



The idea that hot weather is productive of rahies is also now 

 dispelled. The following report, arranged by Professor St. Cyr, 

 of the Lyons Veterinary School, is very instructive, showing 

 that rabies is even more prevalent in the temperate months 

 than in those of extreme heat and cold : — 



Sometimes the annual statistics show a predominance of 

 cases in the summer months. But according to M. Bouley's 

 observations there is no great difference in the seasons with 

 regard to the disease. An analysis by M. Bouley of reports 

 for the six years 1863-1868 gives — for the spring mouths, 

 March, April, and May, eighty-nine cases ; for the summer 

 months, June, July, and August, seventy-four cases ; for 

 autumn, September, October, and November, sixty-four cases; 

 and for the winter months, December, January, and February, 

 seventy-five cases. 



It was at one time maintained that rabies never became 

 developed in the bitch, and it is now advocated that it is far 

 less frequent in females than males. Professor Coleman stated 

 in evidence in 1830 that on the occasion of rabies entering 

 kennels, the mad dogs bit dogs but spared the bitches. This 

 opinion of Coleman is still believed in, more particularly by 

 medical writers. But there can be no doubt that bitches are as 



