OR MADNESS. 275 



said to remove the hydrophobic symptoms, but late trials 

 have shewn the fallacy of the assertion. The same has hap- 

 pened to sulphuric acid, with which a Dr. Skuderi pretends 

 to have effected several cures of hydrophobia, by its internal 

 and external administration. There is, therefore, reason to 

 believe that we have no authenticated case of the rabid ma- 

 lady having- yielded to any treatment, either in man or 

 beast, after it had actually made its attack. 



The preventive treatment.— Here, fortunately for man- 

 kind, we stand on vantage ground, as we can, in almost 

 every instance, insure the prevention of any hurtful conse- 

 quences from the rabid bite. The prophylacticks that both 

 interest and ignorance have extolled and brought into use, 

 are innumerable. Very few of them, however, have de- 

 served the smallest confidence : on the contrary, they have 

 lulled into a fatal security those who have relied on them *.^ 

 The oldest prophylactick with wiiich we are acquainted, is 

 suction. We have very^ntient records of its employment, 

 and, if we can believe these legends, a particular family en- 

 joyed the privilege, or devoted themselves to this process of 

 drawino-, by the apphcation of the mouth to the wound, 

 poisons inserted by venomous animals t- 



^ BoERHAAVE complaiiis of these impositions. « Nee iEschrionis apud 

 " Galenum et Oribasium arcano de cancris combustis ; nee Senbonu 

 « Laro-i famigerata opiata ad rabiem Siculoram ; nee Peregvini consilio 

 " de pelle hysnae j nee .^tii, Rufi, Possidonii, cinere cancrorum cum 

 « theriaca- nee jactata Palmario medela ; vel nimis laudato May erne, 

 "Grew et'venatoribus stanno cum Mithridatio ; nee in somnns sacns 

 « revelata radice cynorrhodonis; aliisve in ccelum elato cichone cmereo 

 " terrestri pimpinella, jeeore rabiosi canes exusto, et simihbus excep- 



" tis ' 



+ Celsus strongly recommends this practice, and brings forward the 

 family of PsvELi.ES to prove how free it is from danger: " Non gustu 

 - sed vulnere nocent."-" Ergo quisquis exemplum Psylli secut«s,jd 

 « vulnus exsuxerit, et ipse tutus erit, et tutum homiuem pr^stab.t. - 

 De Medicin.\ih. v,chap. ii,sect. 12.-Fothergill, Heisteh and % auchan 

 have spoken favourably of suction as a preventive, an there .s reason 

 to suppose that it might be employed in some cases wUh P-ba ih y of 

 LccLful issue: should danger be apprehended from the ep.thehum 



