specific and Contagions Diseases. i6i 



&c., without which no investigation can be said to be 

 complete. 



In animals recently bitte?i by a rabid dog, a?id summarily 

 destroyed, the post-mortem appearances afford no evidence 

 of rabies. The simple reason for this is that sufficient 

 time has not been allowed for the development of the 

 actual disease. Without disease there can be no alteration 

 or destruction of tissue. For similar reasons the ifiocjilation 

 test is equally barren of positive indications. The subse- 

 quent appearance of cerebral symptoms in the inoculated 

 victim is no proof whatever. 



The bite of a healthy dog is regarded by many nervous 

 and timid persons as the probable communication of 

 rabies. This is impossible. Even if rabies developed at 

 a later stage in the same animal, the subject of the bite is 

 perfectly safe. If this were otherwise, the writer would 

 have never penned these lines. The healthy animal, 

 however angry and furious he may be towards strangers, 

 cannot induce or develop within his system the poison of 

 rabies, he must first receive it, the usual source being so?ne 

 other rabid animal. Under the exercise of fear engendered 

 in ignorance of the above fact, the biting dog is labelled 

 " mad," pursuit instantly commences, he is run down and 

 killed, and there is the end of him. But the sufferer lives 

 on in doubt and fear, harassed, tormented, and can never 

 be consoled, probably the end being long delayed, with- 

 out the least sign of the canine disorder. The mistake 

 occurs in the haste to kill the dog. Had he been spared, 

 his death or survival, either of which could be ascertained 

 in all probability within a week at the most, would reveal 

 the true state of the case. 



Another popular error exists in the belief that rabid 

 dogs have a great aversion to water. There is no such 

 fear as far as our observation has been conducted. We 

 have witnessed animals in both forms of the disease en- 

 deavour to slake the burning thirst, which they were 

 unable to accomplish, owing to the want of nervous power 

 which is present from the first, but especially developed 

 in the mute or dumb form. With these truths in evidence 

 it is incorrect to speak of a rabid dog as being affected with 



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