516 THE STOCK OW-NEk's ADVISER. 



ions are divided on the spontaneous origin of rabies. I do not 

 believe that the disease has ever originated spontaneously, but 

 that it originates only by innociilation. Rabies once generated 

 in a dog is transmissable by innoculation to every warm-blooded 

 animal. The disease may occur at any month in the year, and 

 in the female as well as in the male. The virus, when intro- 

 duced into the system, generally lies dormant for a very indefi- 

 nite period, the shortest period in the dog being about seven days, 

 and the longest one hundred and fifty-five days. The period in 

 the majority of cases, however, runs from seven to thirtv-five 

 days. 



Symptoms. — The symptoms of rabies are essentially the same 

 in all warai-blooded creatures. The dog becomes restless and 

 continually shifts his posture, searching new resting places, but 

 very soon changing them, lie lies in dark corners, shuns the 

 light, and gazes strangely about him, with countenance clouded 

 and suspicious. He becomes more fidgety, lying down and jump- 

 ing up again in an excited, unnatural manner. At this stage he 

 shows no disposition to bite, and answers the call upon him lag- 

 gardly. A peculiar delirium is an early symptom, and one that 

 never deceives. There is a desire to lick anything cold, to rest 

 the nose on a cold object, and to pick up bits of wood and straw. 

 The movements of the animal now become unsteady, lie will 

 stare at an imaginary object, then rush forward and bite at any- 

 thing in his way. He may start up after a few moments of 

 quietude, with unmingled ferocity depicted on his countenance, 

 and plunge with a savage howl to the end of his chain. He may 

 stop and watch the nails in the partition, and fancy them to be 

 moving, he will start at them. The symptoms becoming still 

 more severe, the desire to bite is greatly increased; the pupils are 

 dilated, the conjunctiva is red and injected; the eyes alternately 

 wide open with fury, and then closed in a dull, but fierce manner. 

 The forehead becomes wrinkled, and the animal has a terrifying 

 and repulsive look. The presence of any living or shining object 

 will bring on a paroxysm of rage and excitement. Between the 



