278 DISEASES OF ANIMALS. 



ease, there is not that dread of water, or hydrophobia, in 

 the dog as some imagine, though it is common to the 

 human patient, and to some animals, as he (the dog) 

 will often drink almost incessantly till death. There is 

 frequently a carelessness, and an ignorance, in regard to 

 madness, from which follow the most direful conse- 

 quences. Dogs are allowed to lick wounds and sores 

 when the first symptoms of madness are upon them, yet 

 not known by the superficial observer. A lady lost her 

 life by allowing a dog to lick a pimple, not aware that 

 he was becoming mad. Dogs have bitten persons unex 

 pectedly, and for a week or two the most skilful surgeons 

 could not determine whether they were mad or not. 

 There should be more caution in children playing with 

 and teasing dogs, and dogs should be more closely 

 watched, lest madness steal upon them unnoticed. 



Symptoms of madness, in the early stages, are rather 

 obscure. There are generally sullenness, fidgetiness, and 

 changing of posture, in regular succession. For several 

 hours, the dog may retreat to his kennel, and laggardly 

 answer calls upon him. He is curled up, with his head 

 between his paws an^pfcreast. At length he becomes 

 fidgety and searches rot a new resting place, which he 

 soon changes for others. He goes again to his old bed, 

 and constantly changes his posture. He gazes around 

 strangely, with a clouded and suspicious countenance. 

 He comes to one and another of the family, and gazes 

 steadfastly on them, as if invoking their aid in the ter- 

 rible malady that he feels creeping upon him. A pecu- 

 liar delirium is an early symptom ; so is an increased 

 attachment for his master, and he licks his hands and 

 face. In this case, the poison may come in contact with 

 a wound, pimple, or scratch, and infect the whole sys- 

 tem. As the dog is becoming mad, he will sometimes 

 refuse his food, and then snatch it up and suddenly drop 

 it. Some dogs vomit once or twice in the early stages, 

 and never return to their natural food, but are eager for 

 something filthy and horrible. He often eats his own 

 dung and that of the horse. Even in a room not fouled 

 by the urine of dogs, he examines and licks unceasingly 

 every corner ; this is a positive sign of madness. As to 



