234 RABIES CANINA, 



received, is, that the removal of a supposed v/orni from under 

 the tongue, during- the dog's youth, will either prevent his 

 becoming- rabid at any future time, or otherwise will totally 

 incapacitate him from biting in case he should become so Csee 

 Worming in Dogs). I have also known serious mistakes 

 arise from a very general notion entertained, that a mad dog- 

 is instinctively avoided by another. Nothing- can be more 

 untrue : I have repeatedly seen rabid dogs living with others, 

 who have not appeared to feel the smallest apprehension ; 

 nor do healthy dogs ever shew any appearance of dread in 

 their encounters with those that are rabid, or avoid them 

 when they meet: neither is the blood or flesh of a mad dog-, 

 when dead, capable of inspiring horror in a healthy one. 



In a history of the rabid malady, it is worth inquiring into 

 the mode of its origin ; in what animals it may be supposed to 

 have been first generated, and what other animals are known 

 to be capable of receiving- it from them. That the disease 

 was spontaneously generated we are certain : the human 

 contagions of syphilis, small pox, measles, &c. &c., were 

 likewise first generated in this manner: but as these are now 

 very generally considered never to arise spontaneously, are 

 we warranted, from analogy only, to conclude that the rabid 

 malady must now, in every instance, ow^e its origin to con- 

 tagion ? The opinions on this subject are various : and as the 

 weight of authority is considerable on both sides, it might 

 be prudent to hold our judgm.ent in suspense, and not to de- 

 cide too hastily, nor without due grounds. As far as my 

 own experience goes, and as far as close observation and at- 

 tentive consideration have enabled me to judge, I have no 

 hesitation to give it, as my opinion, that the disease is 

 never now of spontaneous origin. Among my almost un- 

 limited opportunities of remarking the subject, I never met 

 with one instance of rabies in a dog wholly secluded from 

 the access of others. Such instances 1 know are on record"^; 



* Two cases that present themselves to my recollection elucidate the 

 caution requisite in forming an opinion on circumstances in themselves 



