RABIES. 177 



RABIES. 



There is one more disease of the nervous system, the most fearful 

 of the hst, viz., Rabies, When a rabid or mad dog is wandering 

 about, if his road hes by cattle he will attack the nearest to him, and 

 if he meets with much resistance he will bite as many as he can. 



When there is suspicion that a beast has been bitten, the wound 

 should be carefully searched for, and being discovered, the hair must 

 be cut from the edges of it, and lunar caustic (nitrate of silver), the 

 stick being reduced to a point, introduced into it, and brought in 

 contact with, and made thoroughly to act upon, every part of it. 

 If there be doubt about the caustic coming into contact with every 

 part of the wound, it must be enlarged with the knife, so as to give 

 free access to it ; and the caustic being fi-eely used upon the whole 

 of the wound, the beast is safe. But who, on an animal thickly 

 covered with hair, will say that there is no other wound ? The 

 shghtest scratch, neglected, is as dangerous as a lacerated wound. 



In this state of uncertainty, therefore, the farmer must look out 

 for the worst. If the disease appear,, it will be about the end of the 

 fifth week, although there will be no absolute security in less than 

 double the number of months. 



The beast will appear dull, languid, feverish, scarcely grazing, and 

 idly ruminating. These may be symptoms of many a different ill- 

 ness, and the previous circumstances alone could excite suspicion of 

 what is to follow. The eyes become anxious, protude, red — there 

 is considerable dischai-ge of saliva, and to this succeeds a thirst that 

 can scarcely be quenched. There is no dread of water at any time. 

 It cannot be too strongly impressed on the mind, and may preserve 

 from danger, anxiety, and fear, him who has to do with domesticated 

 animals of any kind — that the constant and characteristic dread of 

 water is confined to the human being. The ox may exhibit a mo- 

 mentary dislike to fluids, but generally will drink to the last, and the 

 desire of water is increased rather than diminislved by the disease. 



In the ox, the disease, from some cause unknown, takes on two 

 essentially different characters. The symptoms that we have men- 

 tioned are succeeded by frequent pitiful lowings, and a contin- 

 ual and painful attempt to evacuate the faeces. Staggering and 

 weakness of the loins ? ^pear on the second or third day, and this is 

 soon succeeded by pais) of the hinder extremities. The animal sits 

 on its haunches, making ineffectual attempts to rise — looking wo- 

 ful!y around it, and eagei plunging its muzzle into the water, when 

 placed within its reach, but it makes no attempt to do mischief. At 

 other times, the early symptoms are succeeded by a dreadful state 

 of excitation. The animal is eager to do every kind of mischief ; he 

 stands across the path, bellowing incessantly, and tearing up the 

 fijround with his horns. In a few casss, the quiet and melancholv 

 8* 



