152 RABIES. 



11. During the period of incubation of the virus there are no morbid, 

 local, or general alterations of structure or function to be seen in the 

 infected animal ; neither are there any vesicles to be perceived on the in- 

 ferior surface of the tongue, nor any previous symptoms which are found 

 in other contagious diseases. 



12. This disease is generally at its height at the end of fifty days after 

 either artificial or accidental inoculation ; and the author has never known 

 it to manifest itself at a later period. 



13. It is quite an erroneous idea to suppose that dogs in a state of 

 health are enabled to distinguish, at first sight, a rabid animal, inasmuch 

 as they never refuse their food when mixed with the secretions of those 

 infected. 9 



The following singular trial respecting the death of a child by 

 hydrophobia is worth quoting : 



Jones v. Parry. The plaintiff is a labourer, who gets only fourteen shil- 

 lings a-week to support himself and his family. The defendant is his 

 neighbour, and keeps a public- house. This was an action brought by the 

 plaintiff to recover damages against the defendant for the loss of his son, 

 seven years of age, who was bitten by the defendant's dog, and afterwards 

 became affected with rabies, of which disease he died. 



It appeared in the evidence that the defendant's dog had, some time ago, 

 been bitten by another dog ; in consequence of which this dog was tied in 

 the cellar, but the length of the rope which M-as allowed him enabled him 

 to go to a considerable distance. The plaintiff's child knew the dog, having 

 often played with him when he was at large. Some time ago the child 

 crossed the street, near to the place where the dog was fastened, who 

 rushed out of the place in which he was confined to where the child 

 stood, sprung upon him, and bit him sadly in the face, and afterwards 

 violently shook him. The child being thus wounded, a surgeon was sent 

 for, who, after having dressed him, and attended him for a certain time, 

 gave directions that he should be taken to the sea-side, and bathed in the 

 salt water. 



This having been continued for some time, the child was brought home, 

 and, at the expiration of a month from the day on which he was bitten, 

 became evidently and strangely ill. The surgeon proved beyond all 

 shadow of doubt that the child laboured under rabies ; that he had the 

 never-failing symptoms of that dreadful affliction ; and that, a little while 

 before he expired, he even barked like a dog. The surgeon's charge to 

 the father for his attendance was II. 6s. 6d., which, together with the 

 charge of the undertaker for the funeral of the child, amounted to between 

 six and seven pounds. Application was made to the defendant to defray 

 this expense, which at first he expressed a willingness to comply with, but 

 afterwards refused ; upon which this action was brought. 



After some time the defendant offered to pay the plaintiff the sum of 

 61. 3s. 6d., and the expense of the funeral and the surgeon, provided the 

 plaintiff would bear the expenses of the lawsuit, which he was not in a 

 condition to do, as probably it would amount to more than that money. 

 On this account, therefore, the action was now brought into court. There 

 was no proof that the defendant knew or suspected his dog to be mad, 

 previously to his attacking the boy ; but an animal known to have been 



a Journal Pratique de Med. Vet. 



