HYDROPHOBIA. 339 



cases of undoubted hydrophobia, is so great that it can hardly be attributed to the 

 influence of imagination, and we entertain but little doubt that the active ingredient 

 in both prescriptions is the box. 



Many of the older writers on medicine and drugs appear to have been acquainted 

 with the properties of this plant. Thus old John Parkinson, in his " Theatre of 

 Plantes," published in 1640, says : 



" One medicine that I learned of a friend who had tried it effectual, I will here 

 yi't down unto you to cure the bitting of a mad dogge, is to take the leaves and 

 rootes of boxe, and penny-royall, of each a like quantity, shred them small and put 

 them into hot broth and let it be so taken three days together, and apply the herbe, 

 <fcc., to the bitten place with sope and hogges' suet melted together." 



In a curious work on the diseases of dogs, published early in the present century 

 by Delabere Elaine, a veterinary surgeon, a very interesting account is given of his 

 discovery of the composition of a remedy for hydrophobia, and of the results obtained 

 by its employment in a large number of cases. It appears that the author had for 

 some years known that there lived near "Watford a cottager of the name of Webb, 

 who dispensed what is commonly called a drink, as a preventive of hydrophobia. 

 From the number of testimonials received relative to its efficacy, there were reasons 

 to suppose that it really possessed some preventive properties. In the year 1807, 

 rabies proved very prevalent, and the public curiosity became much excited on the 

 subject. Mr. Elaine had his interest in the question greatly enhanced by " having 

 been bitten by a dog unquestionably rabid." He accordingly went to Watford, and, 

 as he says, prosecuted his inquiries with such success that from one of the two 

 brothers who had dispensed it he gained the original recipe, which he took the 

 precaution of having verified on oath before a magistrate. It was found to consist 

 largely of box. The method of preparation adopted by Mr. Elaine is as follows : 

 Take of fresh leaves of the tree box, two ounces ; of fresh leaves of rue, two ounces ; 

 of sage, half an ounce. Chop these finely, and, after boiling them in a pint of water 

 to half a pint, strain and press out the liquor. Beat them in a mortar, or other- 

 wise -bruise them thoroughly, and boil them again in a pint of milk to half a pint, 

 when press out as before. After this mix both liquors, which will then form enough 

 for three doses, one of which is to be taken every morning fasting. 



Mr. Elaine, in the course of a long and extensive practice, gave this remedy to 

 nearly three hundred living beings, including men, women, and children, horses, 

 hogs, sheep, and dogs. In almost every case he was enabled to trace the history of 

 the danger~to the bite of some rabid animal. Although he was unable to regard 

 box as an absolute specific for hydrophobia, the number of cases in which it failed in 

 his hands was remarkably small. 



We think that this combination of testimony should induce us to give box a 

 trial in cases of hydrophobia, more especially as we have practically no other drug 

 on which we can rely. We might either follow Mr. Elaine's directions as to its 

 mode of administration, or, as we think preferably, omit the rue and sage, and give 

 the box alone. The alkaloid or active principle is known as buxine, and is readily 

 obtainable, but we know of no case in which it has been given in hydrophobia, 

 although it is very probable that benefit might ensue from its administration. 



