EABIES. 227 



Cooper, and others in this country believed that the disease was 

 not communicated except by animals which " naturally em- 

 ployed their teeth as weapons of offence." Dr. Fleming mentions 

 several instances where rabies was communicated by inoculation 

 with virus obtained from cows, sheep, and even domestic fowls, 

 and argues " that the facility with which the disease can be 

 transmitted by different species depends, besides the activity or 

 degree of virulency of the infecting principle, upon the organisa- 

 tion, habits, or rather nature of the diseased. Flesh-eating or 

 carnivorous animals, as is well known, generally attack other 

 creatures with their teeth, which are well adapted for wounding 

 and tearing ; consequently they are the most successful in in- 

 oculating with the poison." 



The virus having been introduced into the system, generally 

 lies dormant for a very indefinite period of time, the shortest 

 period in the dog being about seven days, and the longest 155 

 days, but in rare exceptions even longer than this ; in man from 

 three days to nine months, and even ten years in rare instances ; 

 in the horse, from fifteen days to three months, and even fifteen 

 months ; in the sheep, from fourteen days up to three months ; 

 and in the pig, from a few days — eight or nine —to as many 

 weeks, or even months. The wound inflicted by the rabid 

 animal generally heals rapidly. In 1862 M, Eenault pubhshed 

 the results of some experiments which had been conducted with 

 the view of determining the period of incubation in the dog. 

 Out of 131 dogs bitten by mad dogs, or inoculated with their 

 saliva, 63 remained well at the end of four months ; the disease 

 being developed in the other 68 after intervals varying from 

 five to 120 days. Thus— 



In 25 dogs the disease set in betv/een the 5tli and 30th day. 

 In 31 „ „ 30th and 60th day. 



In 7 „ „ 60th and 90th day. 



In 5 „ , „ 90th and 120th day. 



Si/mjJtojns in the Dog. — There are no premonitory signs in the 

 lower animals, at least none that can be detected — such as pain 

 in the seat of the bite, melancholy and irritability, febrile dis- 

 turbance, and stiffness about the neck and head. The doir, 

 when the period of latency is passed, becomes restless, dull, 

 watchful, withdraws from its companions, choosing solitude, 

 shunning the light ; hiding in corners, or below chairs or other 



