1082 PRACTICE OF AGRICULTURE. Paict III. 



rabid dogs, which he says is neither a bark nor a howl, but a tone compounded of both. It has been said by 

 some that this disorder is occasioned by heat or bad food, and by others that it never arises from any other 

 cause but the bite. Accordingly this malady is rare in the northern parts of Turkey, more rare in the 

 southern provinces of that empire, and totally unknown under the burning sky of Egypt. At Aleppo, 

 where these animals perish in great numbers, for want of water and food, and by the heat of the climate, 

 this disorder was never known. In other parfs of Africa, and in the hottest zone of America, dogs are 

 never attacked with madness. Blaine knows of no instance of the complaint being cured, although he 

 has tried, to their fullest extent, the popular remedies of profuse bleedinijs, strong mercurial and arsenical 

 doses, vinegar, partial drowning, nightshade, water plantain, &c. ; he therefore recommends the attention 

 to be principally directed towards the prevention of the malady. 



7419. The pirventive treat?ne7it of rabies or 7n dness is, according to Blaine, always an easy process in 

 the human subject, from the immediate part bitten being easily detected ; in which case the removal of 

 the part by excision or cautery is an eflectual remedy. But, unfortunately for the agriculturist, it is not 

 easy to detect the bitten parts in cattle, nor in dogs ; and it would be therefore most desirable if a certain 

 internal preventive were generally known. Dr. Mead's powder, the Ormskirk powder, sea-bathing, and 

 many other nostrums are deservedly i a disrepute ; while a few country medicines, but little known be- 

 yond their immediate precincts, have maintained some character. Conceiving that these must all possess 

 some ingredient in common, he was at pains to discover it ; and which he appears to have realised by 

 obtaining among others the composition of Webb's Watford drink. In this mixture, which is detailed 

 below, he considers the active ingredient to be the .ffuxus or box, which has been known as a prophylactic 

 as long as the times of Hippocrates and Celsus, who both mention it. The recipe detailed below has been 

 administered to nearly three hundred animals of ditTerent kinds, as horses, cows, sheep, swine, and dogs; 

 and appears to have succeeded in a very great majority of the cases, where it was fairly taken and kept on 

 the stomach. It appears al.so to have strong prophylactic powers in the human subject ; but as it would be 

 most imprudent to trust to it alone, where excision can be practised, so it will be long before the extent of 

 such power can be ascertained in man. The box preventive is thus directed to be prepared : 

 Take of the fresh leaves of the tree-box 2 ounces, 

 of the fresh leaves of rue - - 2 ounces, 

 of sage - . ... A ounce. 



Chop these fine, and boil in a pint of water to half a pint ; strain carefully, and press out the liquor very 

 firmly ; put back the ingredients into a pint of milk, and boil again to half a pint ; strain as before ; mix 

 both liquors, which forms three doses for a human subject. Double this quantity is proper for a horse or 

 cow. Two thirds of the quantity is sufficient for a large dog ; half for a middling-sized, and one third for 

 a small dog. Three doses are sufficient, given one on each of three subsequent mornings fasting; the 

 quantity directed being that which forms these three doses. As it sometimes produces strong effects on 

 dogs, it may be proper to begin with a small dose ; but in the case of dogs we hold it always prudent to in- 

 crease the dose till effects are evident, by the sickness, panting, and uneasiness of the dog. In the human 

 subject, where this remedy appears equally efficacious, we have never witnessed any unpleasant or active 

 effects ; neither are such observed in cattle of any kind. About forty human beings have taken this 

 remedy, and in every instance it has succeeded equally as with animals : but candour obliges us to notice, 

 that in the maj ir part of these, other means were used, as the actual or potential cautery ; but in most of 

 the animals other means were purposely omitted. I'hat this remedy, therefore, has a preventive quality, 

 is unquestionable, and now perfectly established ; for there was not the smallest doubt of the animals men- 

 tioned either having been bitten, or of the dog being mad that bit them, as great pains were in every in- 

 stance taken to ascertain these points. 



7420. To prevent canine madness Pliny recommends worming of dogs; and from his time to the present 

 it has had, most deservedly says Daniel, its advocates. He tells us that he has had various opportunities 

 of proving the usefulness of this practice, and recommends its general introduction. Blaine, on the con. 

 trary, asserts, that the practice of worming is wholly useless and founded in error ; that the existence of 

 any thing like a worm under the tongue is incontestably proved to be false ; and that what has been taken 

 for it is merely a deep ligature of the skin, placed there to restrain the tongue in its motions. He also 

 observes, that the pendulous state of the tongue in what is termed dumb madness, with the existence of 

 a partial paralysis of the under jaw by which they could not bite, having happened to dogs previously 

 wormed, has made the inability to be attributed to this source, but which is wholly an accidental circum. 

 stance, and happens equally to the wormed and unwormed dog. 



7421. Mange. This is a very frequent disease in dogs, and is an affection of the skin, either caught by 

 contagion or generated by the animal. 'I'he scabby mange breaks out in blotches along the back and neck, 

 and is common to Newfoundland dogs, terriers, pointers, and spaniels, and is the most contagious. The 

 cure should be begun by removing the first exciting cause, if removable ; such as filth or poverty, or, as 

 more general the contrary (for both will equally produce it), too full living : then an application should 

 be made to the parts, consisting of sulphur and sal ammoniac; tar-lime-water will also assist. When 

 there is much heat and itcliing, bleed and purge. Mercurials sometimes assist, but they should be used 

 with caution ; dogs do not bear them well. 



7422. Worms. Dogs suffer very much from worms, which, as in most animals so in them, are of several 

 kinds ; but the effects produced are nearly similar. In dogs having the worms the coat generally stares ; 

 the appetite is ravenous, though the animal frequently does not thrive ; the breath smells; and the stools 

 are singular, sometimes loose and flimsy, at others hard and dry : but the most evil they produce is occa- 

 sional tits, or sometimes a continued state of convulsion, in which the animal lingers some time, and then 

 dies: the fits they produce are sometimes of the violent kind ; at others they exhibit a more stupid cha- 

 racter, the dog being senseless and going round continually. The cure consists, while in this state, in 

 active purgatives, joined with opium and the warm bath; any rough substance given internally acts as a 

 vermifuge to prevent the recurrence. 



7423. I'he wortning of whelps is performed with a lancet, to slit the thin skin which immediately covers 

 what is called the worm; a small awl is then to be introduced underthecentreof the worm to raise it up; 

 the farther end of the worm will, with very little force, make its appearance, and with a cloth taking hold 

 of that end, the other will be drawn out easily. The advocates for worming direct that care should be 

 taken that the whole of the worm comes away without breaking; and it rarely breaks, unless cut into by 

 the lancet or wounded by the awl. 



7424. The cat (Felis Catus L.) is distinguished from the lion, tiger, leopard, and others 

 of the genus i<'elis, by its annulate tail. 



7425. Its habits are thus given by LinuEeus : " Inhabits woods of Europe and Asia; domesticated 

 every where ; when tranquil purrs, moving the tail ; when irritated is very active, climbs, spits, emits a 

 fetid odour ; eyes shine at night, the pupil by the day a perpendicular line, by night large, round ; walks 

 with its claws drawn in ; drinks sparingly ; urine of the male corrosive ; breath fetid ; buries its excre. 

 ments ; makes a horrid mewling in its amours ; mews after and plays with its kittens ; wags its tail when 

 looking after prey ; the lion of mice, birds, and the smaller quadrupeds; peaceful among its tribe; eats 

 flesh and fish ; refuses hot or salted things and vegetables ; washes behind its ears before a storm ; back 

 electric in the dark; when thrown up, falls on its feet; is not infested with fleas; gravid sixty-three days; 

 brings three to nine young, blind nine days ; delights in marum, cat-mint, and valerian." 



7426. The cat is qf great -use in the farmery in catching mice, rats, and even birds. It is most desirable 

 to keep males, as where females are kept the noisy gallantry of the adjoining tom-cats is exceedingly an- 

 noying. 



