696 THE Dem. 



ing substances. His eyes shine with an unusual brightness, 

 and he seems to follow certain images in the air, at which he 

 frequently darts as if to clutch them. Whenever this latter 

 symptom appears, the animal must be chained or destroyed, 

 for then no doubt remains regarding the nature of the malady. 

 While the afflicted creature pursues with his eye the spec- 

 tral visions around, it is marvellous, that should a familiar 

 voice, as of his master or some remembered friend, fall upon 

 his ear, he is suddenly recalled to sense : he crouches down, 

 draws near to receive the wonted caresses, and looks implor- 

 ingly around as if to inquire what it can be that thus afflicts 

 him. But soon the countenance changes again, and the eyes 

 as before follow the phantoms of the brain. The voice as- 

 sumes a tone unlike to that of any known animal sound : it is 

 a hoarse convulsive bark, terminating in a low shrill howl, 

 which once heard can never be forgotten. Sometimes the 

 animal is nearly mute, and the disease passes through its 

 several stages without his exhibiting violence. At other 

 times, and this much more commonly, his muscular power 

 increases, and his agitation is beyond control. He gnaws 

 his chain, tears the boards about him to pieces, and grinds 

 them to powder, and from time to time darts at the imagi- 

 nary beings which he fancies to float before him. The period 

 of excessive fury, however, is generally brief, and death re- 

 lieves him from his sufferings. 



Mr Youatt, who has well treated of this subject in his 

 history of the Dog, thus describes the early stages of the 

 malady in a Newfoundland dog put under his charge. " He 

 was brought to me this evening, his eyes were wild, the con- 

 junctiva considerably inflamed, and he panted quickly and vio- 

 lently. The eyes were wandering, and evidently following 

 some imaginary object, but he was quickly recalled from his 

 delirium by my voice or that of his master. He had pre- 

 viously been under my care, and immediately recognised me, 

 and offered me his paw."* 



* " The Dog," by William Youatt, Esq. 



