318 THE DOG IN DISEASE. 



Dumb rabies seems to l^e more prevalent in hounds 

 kept in packs than in other varieties of the dog. 



Treatment. — The disease can not be conveyed by the 

 digestive tract, so that there is no (danger in sucking a 

 wound to extract the poison, provided the lips, etc., are 

 free from cuts or abrasions — i. e., so long as they are pro- 

 tected by the natural covering of epithelium. 



Sucking the wound, a handkerchief twisted tightly be- 

 yond the wound to prevent the return of blood as much 

 as possible into the general circulation, and especially vig- 

 orous and prompt use of the actual cautery, in the form of 

 a red-hot iron or the solid stick of nitrate of silver, consti- 

 tute the best treatment. It is a good thing to carry the 

 latter always in the vest-pocket, in view of emergencies of 

 different kinds. In the case of man, the subject should be 

 at once subjected to the Pasteur treatment, which has un- 

 doubtedly produced marvelous results. 



The dog should, if possible, be treated in the same 

 way ; but if the disease has actually developed itself and 

 the diagnosis is certain, a painless death for the animal 

 is the clear indication. 



The rabid dog should be not only confined in a suitable 

 place, but secured by very strong and reliable fastenings. 

 But as all animals bitten do not become rabid, it is not 

 necessary to kill a dog bitten by a rabid animal at once, 

 for he may wholly escape ; and instances are given of 

 dogs repeatedly bitten that never took the disease — in fact, 

 in this, as in other maladies, some animals enjoy a natural 

 immunity ; but in any case secure isolation is imperative. 



Convulsions, Epilepsy, Fits, Apoplexy. — All the normal 

 movements of the body are the result of harmonious or 



