282 THE DISEASES AND DISORDERS OF THE OX. 



there is always room for the greatest appreheosion after a person 

 has been bitten by a mad dog, even if the most approved remedies 

 have been applied locally at once and in the most effectual 

 manner. Probably permanganate of potassium might be very 

 valuable if applied at once either as a fine powder or in the form 

 of a strong solution. This salt seems to be very highly 

 efficacious in regard to snake-poison. 



It would be most interesting, as well as valuable, to discuss 

 here the rise and progress of various inoculatory methods, 

 vaccination, inoculation for pleuro-pneumonia, for anthrax, for 

 cattle-plague, and so on ; but time and space forbid. We have 

 little hesitation in saying, having regard to the work of the most 

 noted investigators, that inoculatory methods are now to be 

 regarded as among the most powerful remedial agents we possess, 

 and that so far from not receiving endorsement, they will be 

 proved more and more serviceable in eradicating outbreaks of 

 disease whether among men or animals, as our knowledge 

 gradually advances towards greater perfection. 



Speaking generally, it may be said that protective inocula- 

 tion is one of the greatest of modern discoveries, and that 

 there can be no doubt that continued research will help us 

 very greatly in regard to our methods of dealing with such 

 dreadful diseases as that now under discussion. A Select Com- 

 mittee of the House of Lords on Rabies in Dogs, reported 

 that while it cannot be absolutely demonstrated that the 

 disease does not arise spontaneously, it is nevertheless prac- 

 tically known that subcutaneous inoculation with the virus 

 of rabies is the only ascertained means by which the disease 

 can be produced. 



The following are the recommendations of the Committee : — 

 (1) That when rabies is prevalent the muzzle should be 

 enforced; (2) that the power of the police constable should 

 be extended to authorise the slaughter of stray dogs; (3) that 

 the symptoms of rabies should be endorsed on dog licences; 

 (4) that local authorities should have power to order that dogs 

 should wear badges which may identify their owners; (5) that 

 in populous places local authorities should place restrictions 

 upon dogs generally, and especially deal stringently with 

 apparently ownerless dogs in their districts; (6) that in the 

 event of its being conclusively proved that M. Pasteur's system 



