102 RABIES, OR MADNESS. 



violent, would bite and tear himself until his breast was shockingly mangled, and the 

 blood flowed from it in a stream. 



The inost interesting and satisfactory symptom is the evident dread of wati^r which 

 exists in the decided majority of cases, and the impossibility of swallowing any con- 

 siderable quantity. Professor Uupuy gives an account of this circumstan'ce : "A 



rabid horse was confined in one of the sick boxes. His food was given to him 

 throu^rh an opening over the door, and a bucket was suspended from the door, and 

 supplied with water by means of a copper tube. As soon as he heard the water 

 falling into the pail, lie iVU into violent convulsions, seized the tube, and crushed it 

 to pieces. When the water in his bucket was agitated, the convulsions were renewed. 

 He would occasionally appioach the bucket as if he wished to drink, and then, after 

 agitating the water for an instant, he would fall on liis litter, uttering a hoarse crj^ ; 

 but he would rise again almost immediately. These symptoms were dreadfully 

 increased if water was tlirown upon his head. He would then endeavour to seize it as 

 it fell, and bite with fury at everything within his reach, his whole frame being dread- 

 fully convulsed." 



As tlie disease progresses, not only is the animal rapidly debilitated, but there is 

 the peculiar staggering gait which is observable in the dog — referrible to evident loss 

 of power in the muscles of the lumbar region. I once saw a mare sitting on her 

 haunches, and unable to rise; yet using her fore feet with the utmost fury, and 

 suffering no one to come within her reach. She, too, would sometimes plunge her 

 muzzle into the offered pail ; and immediately withdraw it in evident terror, while 

 every limb trembled. At other times the lowering of the pail would affright her, and 

 she would fall on lier side and struggle furiously. Although this symptom is not 

 often observed in the dog, it is a satisfactory identification of the disease, when it is 

 so frequently seen in the horse, and so invariably in the human being. 



The earliest and perhaps the most decisive symptom of the near approach of rabies 

 in the horse, is a spasmodic movement of the upper lip, particularly of the angles of 

 the lip. Close following on this, or contemporaneous with it, is the depressed and 

 anxious countenance, and inquiring gaze, suddenly however lighted up and becoming 

 fierce and menacing, from some unknown cause, or at the approach of a stranger" 

 From time to time different parts of the frame — the eyes — the jaws — particular limbs 

 — will he convulsed. The eye will occasionally wander after some imaginary object, 

 and the horse will snap again and again at that which has no real existence. Then 

 will come the irrepressible desire to bite the attendants or the animals within its 

 reach. To this will succeed the demolition of the rack, the manger, and the whole 

 furniture of the stable, accompanied by the peculiar dread of water which has been 

 already described. 



Towards the close of the disease there is generally paralysis, usually confined to 

 the loins and the hinder extremities, or involving those organs which derive their 

 nervous influence from this portion of the spinal cord ; — hence the distressing tenes- 

 mus which is occasionally seen. 



The disease rarely extends beyond the third day. 



After death, there is uniformly found inflammation at the back part of the mouth, 

 and at tlie top of the windpipe, and likewise in the stomach, and on the membrane 

 covering the lungs, and where the spinal marrow first issues from the brain. 



When the disease can be clearly connected with a previous bite, the sooner the 

 animal is destroyed the br'tter, for t/iere is nn cure. If the symptoms bear consideraljle 

 resemblance to rabies, although no bite is suspected, the" horse should at least be 

 slung, and the medicine, if any is administered, given in the form of a drink, and 

 with the hand well protected; for if it should be scratched in ballincr the horse, or 

 the skin should have been previously broken, the saliva of the animalis capable of 

 communicating the disease. Several farriers have lost their lives from being bitten 

 or scratched in the act of administering- medicine to a rabid horse. 



It is always dangerous to encourage any dogs about the stable, and especially if 

 they become fond of the horses, and are in the habit of jumping up and licking them 

 The corners of the mouth of the horse are often sore frmi the pressure of the bit; and 

 when a coach-dog in a gentleman's stable — and it is likely to happen in every stable 



