218 THE HISTORY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE. 



A knowledge of poisons and their action is an indispensable part 

 of the education of the doctor, as the food is often poisoned by the 

 enemies of the ruler, wicked women, and unthankful servants. 

 These ancient Indian doctors seem to have been well acquainted 

 with hydrophobia, as the action of the bite of the rabid dog, fox, 

 jackal, wolf, bear, and tiger. The treatment consisted in appro- 

 priate local applications to the wound, and the inward offering of 

 antidotes. 



In this regard Wise * says : 



" The Bites of Mad Dogs. — When dogs, jackals, foxes, wolves, 

 bears, or tigers, become mad, they foam at the mouth, which re- 

 mains open, their tails bang down, they do not hear or see well, 

 and saliva flows from their mouths. In such a state they snap at 

 and bite one another. The part that is bitten becomes senseless, 

 blood flows from the wound, which becomes black, and other ap- 

 pearances are observed, as after a wound with a poisoned arrow. 

 The ])erson hitteii makes tJie same hind of noise and movements as 

 that of the anim^al which has bitten him. IVheii such a person sees 

 the shape of the animal which has hitten him, either in water or in 

 a glass, it is an unfavorable symptom. It is also iinfavorahle wJien 

 the person is afraid of water, and dreads either seeing or hearing 

 it. This is called hydrophobia, the fear of water. When the per- 

 son dreams of the rabid animal, it is unfavorable. Toward the ter- 

 mination of the disease the person is convulsed, becomes insensible 

 and powerless, and dies." 



" In all such cases the first part of treatment should be to scari- 

 fy the part and squeeze out the blood, after which the p>art is to be 

 washed and burned by means of hot ' ghee^ Then apply to the 

 wounded part a mixture of certain antidotes, and give old ' ghee ' 

 internally. Errhines are also to be given with the milk of the arka- 

 plant, Calatropis giyantea. Susruta recommends the following, 

 which is to be used both internally and externally : Take of ' Shir- 

 isha,' ' Kustha,' ' Haridra,' ' Shita,' ' Sharshapa,' of each forty ratas, 

 mix in a pint of water, and boil until reduced one fourth. During 

 the treatment the patient should be kept in a cool situation, without 

 any water. When the symptoms disappear, the person should then 

 bathe, and on the third and fifth days the above is to be administered 

 in half the dose given at first. He is then to take rice and milk. 

 It is recommended in these cases to act powerfully upon the system 

 by strong medicines before the poison has produced its constitu- 

 tional effects. After the infliction of the wound, and before it has 



* " History of Medicine in India," vol. i, p. 280. 



