SYMPTOMS 313 



sooner or later changes to the dumb form, that is, the final 

 stage of the disease is ahnost invariably paralj^tic. In the 

 typical development of the dumb form, the paralysis occurs on 

 the first day of the disease. It may not appear, however, 

 until the second or third or even a later day. 



Again, a dog does not necessarily bite everything about it 

 even if it has rabies and its jaws are not paralyzed. It may be 

 combative and furious all of the time or only part of the time, 

 or not at all. There is perhaps no disease in which the symp- 

 toms may vary more than in rabies of the dog. 



Furious rabies. The symptoms appear very gradually. 

 The animal's habits and behavior are changed. It may be 

 more restless or affectionate than usual, seeking to be near its 

 master or mistress, fawning, licking the hand or face and 

 apparently seeking sympathy or assistance. Such caresses 

 are, however, extremely dangerous, for the animal's tongue, 

 moist with virulent saliva, coming in contact with a part 

 where the skin is thin, abraded or wounded may fatally infect 

 the person to whom it is endeavoring to demonstrate its affec- 

 tion. The reported cases in which rabies has developed from 

 such inoculations are quite numerous. 



In most cases dogs first become dull, gloomy, morose, 

 seeking solitude and isolation in out-of-the-way places or retir- 

 ing under pieces of furniture. But in their retirement they 

 cannot rest, they are uneasy and agitated, they lie down and 

 assume the attitude of repose, but in a few minutes they are 

 up walking about "seeking rest, but finding none." Occa- 

 sionally this restlessness may disappear for a time and the 

 animal becomes lively and affectionate ; oftener it sinks into a 

 sullen gloominess from which even its master's voice rouses it 

 but temporarily. At this period dogs may have aberrations of 

 the senses which cause hallucinations and lead them to think 

 they are being annoyed by something or that some animal or 

 person is endeavoring to injure them. They crouch ready ta 

 spring upon the enemy ; they rush forward and snap at the 

 air ; they throw themselves, howling and furious, against the 

 wall as though they heard sounds beyond it. 



