cS 



of soft (lead tissue is often present in the Inng, and this may 

 be suiTOunded by new fibrous tissue. Sometimes abscesses are 

 found. The flesh may be quite good and fit for food if the 

 animal has been slaughtered. In the acute stages, however, 

 and in emaciated animals, it is watery, of poor quality, and 

 should not be eaten. 



EABIES. 



Definition. — An inoculable disease caused by a still un- 

 discovered agent. 



Animals affected.- — All animals, including human beings, 

 may suffer from Rabies if the virulent material be inoculated, 

 but it is chiefly by the dog that the disease is spread. In 

 human beings the disease is called Hydrophobia. 



Symptoms. — The disease is characterised in the earlier stages 

 by maniacal symptoms, and later by paralysis. 



A dog is observed to change his former habits. He is rest- 

 less, and often seeks dark corners, or wanders away from his 

 home in an aimless way. He will sometimes snap at persons, 

 other animals and inanimate objects (furious Rabies). He may 

 also foam at the mouth. He will tear up and swallow such 

 articles as wood and cloth ; in fact it sometimes happens that 

 attention is drawn to his condition by the lodgment of a sharp 

 object in his throat. 



The voice becomes altered to what might be described as a 

 weird howl. 



In the later stages paralysis sets in (dumb Rabies), which 

 first affects the lower jaw, but may ultimately show itself in 

 the limbs. The jaw drops, and saliva, which the dog is unable 

 to swallow, trickles from the mouth. 



Persons are sometimes inoculated by getting the saliva on the 

 fingers and unwittingly rubbing it into the eyes or scratches. 



It should be noted that the saliva has been found virulent 

 in experimentally inoculated animals three days before the 

 appearance of even the premonitory symptoms. 



Post-Tnortevi. — The post-mortem appearances are not con- 

 stant. For this reason the head of a suspected dog should be 

 immediately sent to a pathologist or to the Board's Laboratory, 

 so that inoculations may be made with the brain substance. 



The principal changes observed are congestion of the 

 membrane of the throat, and a similar condition in various 

 parts of the stomach and bowel. The stomach may be quite 

 empty except for a A^ariable quantity of blood-stained mucus. 

 If, however, the dog has been killed in the earlier stages the 

 stomach may contain a mass of foreign material such as wool, 

 hair, wood, coal, &c. 



