250 RAUIES CAN IN A, 



I am fully persuaded, that accidental circumstances also 

 have some influence in determining- the time of the attack, 

 from repeatedly seeing- it follow directly after any great ex- 

 citement, as that of travelling-, particularly in hot and dry 

 weather. The oestrum of bitches favours the approach ; and, 

 in fact, whatever tends greatly to accelerate the circulation 

 appears to produce a more early developement of the disease. 

 The certamty of the attack is also, 1 have reason to believe, 

 g-reatly increased, as well as hastened, according- to the part 

 bitten. 1 have very seldom known any animal escape which 

 was bitten in the head or face ; and I have, in almost every 

 instance, observed less time to intervene in these cases than 

 in others bitten elsewhere. This circumstance is further 

 confirmed by the experience of other French and English 

 authors. 



Symptoms of Rabies. — 1 shall now proceed to describe 

 the pciihognomonick and occasional appearances of the rabid 

 malady, premising- that the varieties in both, but particularly 

 in the latter, are so numerous, that hardly any two cases pre- 

 sent themselves under a directly similar aspect. It is how- 

 ever certain, that, by the aid of the.pathognomonick symptoms, 

 the disease may be always detected without fear of mistake. 

 The extent of the former, and the necessity for a distinct 



and hydrophobic symptoms will include the greatest number of cases. 

 Instances, however, occur, where the period is extended much beyond 

 this average. One of Dr. Parry's cases was seven months ; Dr. Meau 

 met with one of eleven months. Galen has informed us of one of twelve 

 months. In the Phil. Trans, of Paris, No. 445, a case is detailed, by 

 M. NouRSE, occurring after fifteen months. Neither is there any reason 

 to doubt the authenticity of any of these statements; but what are we 

 to think of the case related by C^lius Aurelianus, which took place 

 after seven years; of Salmuth's, after eighteen years; and of that 

 met with in the Ephemeridcs des Curieux de la Nature, " I'histoire 

 " d'une femme qui devint hydrophobe que vingt ans apres ?" which are, 

 however, all outdone by DocoNitus, who, in Ohs. Med., chap, xii, speaks 

 of hydrophobia occurring thirty years after the bite. To these we may 

 reply — wedile vuU ! 



