Diseases of Domestic Jlnimals, xli 



here exhibited, the possibility that aa incapacity of being 

 acted upon by the canine virus in both man and animals, 

 may be produced by exciting in them a previous disease. 



In alhiding to the disease sometimes produced by the bite 

 of a rabid animal, I am sorry, very sorry to be obliged to 

 declare, that it still continues to humble the pride of the me- 

 dical profession. We know indeed its peculiarities and symp- 

 toms, and I myself have contributed to elucidate its patho- 

 logy ; but we also know its extreme fatality ,* and with regard 

 to the means of cure, the learned and experienced physician 

 is brought at once to the level of the most uninformed among 

 the multitude ; for, gentlemen, the disease has never been 

 cured, and to this day, we are obliged to remain the helpless 

 spectators of our patient's sufferings .^'^ 



But we must not despair ; for I cannot think that Provi- 

 dence has determined to permit this disease to he forever in- 

 curable, and can any more powerful argument be adduced 

 for investigating the diseases of domestic animals, than the. 

 knoAvledge of this fact, that all of us are every day of our 

 lives liable to the attack of an awful and incurable malady 

 from one of them, and who is the grateful companion, and 

 faithful midnight defender of our houses and property ? On 

 this disease I shall deliver a particular lecture ; and although 

 I will not assert that I can point out a mode of cure, yet it 

 will still be useful to investigate its pathology, for truth is 

 always elicited by discussion. 



3. An attention to the diseases of domestic animals is more- 

 over of infinite importance to the practitioner of medicine in 

 another point of view : for by them we are led sometimes 

 to anticipate fatal epidemics, and of course are provided with 

 the means of guarding against them. Homer tells us, that 

 the plague that spread among the troops at the siege of Troy 

 with great fury, first made its appearance among dogs and 

 cats. In the phigue that ravaged the island of Egina, to 

 the south of Athens, about sixty years before tlie Trojan 

 war, and of which Ovid has given an aiTecting aopount." ih*-. 



