232 CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 



The symptoms of rabies in the cow, sheep, goat, &c., arc 

 very similar to those in the horse; in all there is "loss or 

 depravity of the appetite, prostration, great restlessness, in- 

 creased excitability, muscular tremblings, a flow of saliva from 

 the mouth, excitation of the sexual desire, especially in the bull, 

 difficulty in swallowing, and manifestations of hallucinations as 

 well as disagreeable sensations in the seat of the wound." — 

 (Fleming.) And succeeding to these signs are those of great 

 violence, paralysis of the hind extremities, emaciation, and 

 finally coma and death. 



Medical treatment, after rabies has established itself, is of 

 no avail. 



PKEVENTIVE TEEATMENT. 



Complete excision of the bitten surface, as soon as possible 

 after the infliction of the injury, is the best that can be adopted. 



If the wound be superficial, the free application of the caustic 

 potash (Potassa fusa) or of the nitrate of silver is sufficient ; but 

 if deep or much lacerated, the parts are to be carefully excised 

 before the caustic is applied. Where this has been done in 

 man seven out of ten escape, whilst if no such means are used 

 eight out of ten die. — (Bollinger.) It is very difficult in the 

 lower animals, covered as they are with hair, to know whether 

 the part bitten be confined to any particular region of the body, 

 no matter how carefully the skin may be searched. It is there- 

 fore advisable to have the bitten animal shaved as quickly 

 as possible, in order that all scratches be brought into view, 

 and that they may be dressed with the caustic. In dogs pre- 

 ventive treatment should not be resorted to, but the bitten 

 animal ought at once to be destroyed. It is very true that all 

 dogs inoculated with the rabies poison do not become mad ; 

 the risk of their becoming so is, however, so great, and the 

 mischief they might inflict is so grave and important in its 

 nature, that the chance of their doing such mischief should 

 never be allowed. Whilst the above precautions are considered 

 necessary, it cannot be said that they are always effective in 

 preventing the disease in bitten persons or animals. Pasteur, 

 however, as is well known, had carried out his system of vac- 

 cination by attenuated virus to almost a universally successful 

 conclusion, and he anticipated that, although the time was still 



