HYDROPHOBIA. 335 



of hydrophobia is much greater than when they have been inflicted on the covered 

 portion of the body or limbs, for in the latter case the clothing protects the wound 

 from the action of the saliva. 



The symptoms produced by hydrophobia in man are somewhat different from 

 those we have described as occurring in animals. Let us suppose that a man 

 is bitten on the hand by a mad dog, what happens *? At first nothing ; the wound 

 behaves, to all appearance, just as it would have behaved if the dog which 

 produced it had not been rabid that is, it gradually heals up. After an uncertain 

 period, which may vary from three or four weeks to as many months, or even 

 longer, the patient experiences an uneasy sensation in the situation of the bite. 

 The scar tingles, or aches, or feels numb, or it may even become inflamed, and 

 the wound break out afresh. In a few hours or days, during which the patient 

 feels uncomfortable, and "ill all over," the constitutional symptoms make their 

 appearance. Pain and stiffness are experienced about the head and neck, and 

 then the most characteristic symptom of the disease, inability to swallow fluids, 

 sets in. The patient is thirsty, but is unable to swallow, every attempt bringing 

 on a fit of choking and sobbing of a most distressing character. This continues 

 for a few days, and then the patient gradually dies of exhaustion. 



Sir Thomas Watson has given a' graphic account of a case of hydrophobia 

 which came under his observation. It is too long to transcribe in full, and we must 

 consequently content ourselves with giving an abstract of the chief features, believing 

 that such a course will be more conducive to a correct appreciation of the nature 

 of the disease than a mere enumeration of the symptoms. The patient was 

 a coachman, whose right hand had been struck ten weeks previously by the 

 teeth of a terrier dog. He was brought to the hospital on a Tuesday. On 

 the preceding Thursday his hand became painful and swollen. On Friday the 

 pain extended into the arm, and became more severe. On the morning of this 

 day he had refrained from taking his usual cold bath on account of some 

 feeling of spasm about his throat. His own remark about this was that " he 

 could not think how he could be so silly." On Saturday the extent and severity 

 of the pain had still farther increased, and on this and the preceding night 

 he got no sleep. He felt ill and drowsy on the Sunday, and the pain extended 

 to the shoulder. The next day he complained of feeling " ill all over," and 

 told his medical attendant that he could not take his draughts, because of the 

 spasm in his throat. That gentleman, concealing his own suspicions as to the 

 true nature of the disease, said, " Oh, you don't like the taste of your physic ! 

 drink some water." But he declared that he had the same difficulty with 

 the water. The next day he came to the hospital, when there was water 

 brought and placed before him in a basin, for the alleged purpose of allowing 

 him to wash his hands. It did not seem to disturb him, nor to excite any 

 particular attention. Water was then offered him to drink, which he took and 

 carried to his mouth, but drew his head from it with a convulsive shudder. 

 Subsequently water was again brought him, which agitated him, and he became 

 exceedingly distressed and unquiet, complaining of the air which blew upon him. 

 In the evening he made an attempt to take some gruel He sat up, and 



