RABIES HYDROPHOBIA. 123 



The symptoms of its approach are dulness ; loss of appetite; the 

 eyes are anxious, protruding, and red ; the animal fretiuently and 

 pitifully lows, and is continually voiding its durg or its urine. Saliva 

 drivels plentifully from the mouth, but after a day or two the discharge 

 dries up, and is succeeded by thirst almost insatiable: there is no 

 hydrophubia, or dread of water, at any time. Presently weakness of 

 tlie loins and staggering appear : these are succeeded by palsy of the 

 hind limbs, and the animal lingers six or seven days, and dies. 



In some cases the beast is dreadfully ferocious : he runs furiously 

 at every object, stands across the path bellowing and tearing up the 

 ground, and violently attacks and gores his companions. 



There is no cure; the most prudent thing is to destroy the animal 

 as soor» as the disease is sufficiently plain. Care should be taken 

 that the saliva of the rabid ox is not received on a wound or abraded 

 part, for it has produced the disease in other animals. Any wound 

 on which it has fallen should immediately have the lunar caustic 

 applied to it. 



When a mad dog has been known to bite an ox, or a cow, there is 

 a possibility of their escape, for the hide is thick, and the hair is thick 

 too, and the skin may not be penetrated, or the tooth may have been 

 cleaned in passing through the hair. They should be most carefully 

 examined, and especially about the part on which they were seized 

 by the dog, and if the minutest scratch can be found, the hair must 

 be cut off round it, and the lunar caustic applied. That being done 

 effigctually, and every bite being discovered and operated on, the 

 animal is safe; but it is possible, or rather it is too probable, that 

 every bite will not -be discovered, considering how thickly the skin 

 is covered by hair. It is, therefore, the safest course, if the beast is 

 in tolerable condition, to sell it at once to the butcher, for it will not 

 be fit for the shambles after rabies has once appeared. Medicine 

 would be perfectly thrown away in these cases. The stories which 

 are prevalent in every village, of the wonderful power of certain 

 drinks, are all founded either on ignorance or fraud. There is nu 

 cure; and no prevention but the destruction of the part. 



CHAPTER XL. 



THE DISEASES INCIDENT TO YOUNG CALVES. 



When the calf is dropped, proper care should be taken of the cow 

 by providing her with a comfortable place to lie down : she should 

 also be suifered freely to lick her calf, for this will not only make her 

 fond of it, but the young animal will be thoroughly cleansed, and 

 raised much sooner than it otherwise would ; and the 'nother, in eau 



