280 RABIES CANINA, 



fern (polypodium) , wormwood {artemisia arhorescens), 

 mug-wort {artemisia vulgaris), betony {hetonica), tree box 

 (buxus)*. My opinions on the efficacy of this plant, as a 



* The tree-box is one of the oldest internal preventives made use of. 

 Mention appears to be made of it in the writings of Hippocrates ; Galen 

 and Celsus likewise speak of it. It has continued to be used from that 

 time to the present, and it forms the active principle in the celebrated 

 Hertfordshire, or Webb's drink. The rue which enters into it, in equal 

 proportions, I have not the same dependance on. The huxus, or box, 

 has long been known in India, and vised as a preventive of rabies j but it 

 is the dwarf box that is there vised, and it is usually mixed with a decoc- 

 tion of the horns of the rhinoceros. 



For some years I had been informed that there lived, near Watford, 

 a cottager of the name of Webb, who dispensed what is commonly called 

 a drinh, as a remedy against rabies generally. The many testimonies I 

 had received from gentlemen, relative to its efficacy, supported by facts 

 apparently avvthentic and conclusive, gave me reason to suppose that it 

 really possessed some preventive properties : but, till the year 1807, I 

 had not embraced any opportunity of putting its qualities to the test of 

 experiment. Abovit that time madness proving very prevalent, and the 

 public curiosity becoming very much excited on the subject, my atten- 

 tion was awakened to the advantage of such a preventive. 



To endeavour, therefore, to ascertain the grounds on which the repu- 

 tation of this remedy stood, I went to Watford, and prosecuted my in- 

 quiries with such success, that, from one of the two brothers who had 

 dispensed it, I gained the original recipe, which had been before verified 

 on oath before a magistrate. I immediately presented the public with 

 the composition, with all I had learned relative to it, through the me- 

 dium of the Medical Review for December 1807, where the original re- 

 cipe, and mode of preparation, may be seen at length. The following 

 method of preparing it is an improvement on the original formula : — 



Take of the fresh leaves of the tree box. 2 ounces 



Of the fresh leaves of rue 2 ovinces 



Of sage half an ounce. 



Chop these finely, and, after boiling them in a pint of water to half a 

 pint, strain and press out the liquor. Beat them in a mortar, or other- 

 wise bruise them thoroughly, and boil them again, in a pint of new milk, 

 to half a pint, which press out as before. After this, mix both the boiled 

 liquors, which will make three doses for a human subject. Double this 

 quantity will form three doses for a horse or cow ; two-thirds of it is suf- 

 ficient for a large dog, calf, sheep, or hog j half of the quantity is re- 



