95 



THE HYDROPHOBIA. 



This is a dreadtul disease, and has received a very appropriate 

 name, as not only dogs, but human beings, when afflicted with 

 this little -understood malady, uniformly testify an abhorrence of 

 water, and, I believe, of fluids in general. 



The hydrophobia affords a striking instance of successful 

 quackery in the avidity with which the Ormskirk Medicine was 

 purchased, till within these few years that the imposture has been 

 exposed. This compound of calcined oyster shells, elecampane, 

 roach alum, and bole ammoniac, was originally administered gratis ; 

 but no sooner was it discovered, that the medicine was eagerly 

 sought after, than the sale of it was advertised ; agents were 

 appointed in different parts; and many hundreds purchased and 

 took the medicine who had been bitten, but not by mad dogs. A 

 dog accustomed to the country, is generally alarmed when he ap- 

 proaches a town or village the shaking of a cobler's apron, or 

 some such thing, is frequently resorted to, by the lower orders 

 the terrified animal takes to his heels, and will most likely snap 

 at any person who attempts to impede his progress. Nothing is 

 heard but the cry of mad dog ! and many who have been bitten 

 under such circumstances, have called in the assistance of the 

 Ormskirk medicine, and have thus been willing to suppose a dis- 

 order prevented, which did not exist in the dog, and which, of 

 course, could not be communicated. 



The venders of the Ormskirk medicine, however, made the 

 most of the matter its infallibility was puffed upon the, public 

 in the most barefaced manner ; and it was even publicly stated, 

 that such was the virtue of the medicine, that even after the 



