THE HYDROPHOBIA. 101 



the greatest horror comes on, and the most shocking muscular 

 distortions ensue ; if the liquor is attempted to be forcibly pres- 

 sed upon them, the experiment is rejected by an instantaneous 

 succession of the most horrid gesticulations, and convulsive dis- 

 tortions, in which every ray of reason seems to be absorbed. 

 Upon a temporary cessation of so serious and distressing a par- 

 oxysm, the poor unhappy patient now murmurs, groans, and 

 mourns most miserably ; loses, by degrees, all knowledge of 

 his dearest friends and most familiar acquaintance : and their 

 presenting themselves before him, is the very critical moment 

 when all of this description give proof of their desire to bite, 

 which, in the attempt, bears no ill affinity to the similar snap- 

 pings of a village cur. 



Awful to relate, reason returns at intervals, and he feelingly 

 laments his own calamity, and deplores his own incapacity. A 

 consciousness of an approaching dissolution is perceptible even 

 to himself, and he seems truly resigned to the singularity of his 

 fate. Severe pain and consequent heat producing thirst, a de- 

 sire to drink is displayed, but nature shrinks from her office ; in 

 vain the patient raises his hand to touch the vessel, it almost 

 magically produces instant tremor the hand recedes, and the 

 patient sinks into the most afflicting despondency. Conscious, 

 likewise, of his constantly increasing inclination to bite, he in 

 his rational moments, makes signals to warn his friends of the 

 danger, and keep themselves at a distance. Towards the con- 

 clusion of this dreadful and most melancholy scene, the fever 

 and parching thirst increase, the tongue becomes swelled and 

 protruded, foam issues from theinouth, strength fails, cold sweats 

 come on, the stricture upon the breast increases, as well as the 

 other predominant symptoms, until, in a long succession of con- 

 vulsive struggles, all-powerful death closes the scene. 



The cause of the hydrophobia is utterly unknown ; and its 



effects hitherto appear to have baffled every remedy which has 



I 3 



