MAD DOGS. 231 



as keep dogs, to be well acquainted with 

 the progress of this disease in these animals, 

 and above all things to know the manner 

 in which they are effected when it first com- 

 mences, in order to use the necessary pre- 

 cautions to prevent the propogation of it. 

 I will therefore endeavour to describe it as 

 well as I can, from the observations I have 

 been enabled to make on Rabid animals, 



At first they are dull and heavy for a few 

 days, shewing no other signs of illness ; eating 

 their food sparingly, but drinking more than 

 usual ; yet neither to such a degree as to ex- 

 cite much observation; this heaviness and 

 want of appetite is soon reversed, and they 

 become more than usually lively, and eat 

 and drink rather voraciously, and seem par- 

 ticularly eager to jump on their master or 

 keeper, apparently with the wish of being 

 taken notice of and fondled. Under such 

 circumstances they should be avoided. This 

 vivaciousness soon turns to great irritability, 

 which is the first clear indication of the 

 Q4 



