OR CANINE MADNESS. 219 



tomatic fever present, water is sought for, and, in most cases, an 

 extreme eagerness is expressed for it9. The experience of more 

 than twenty-five years, many of which were passed in the midst of 



^ It is imperative on me to press this point particularly, as will be seen be- 

 low. Mr. Youatt also expressly says in his pamphlet, p. 3, " There is no 

 dread of water ; no spasm attending the effort to swallow ; but a most extra- 

 ordinary and unquenchable thirst." Mr. Meynell remarks, that mad dogs 

 have no abhorrence or dread of water ; and th^t they will eagerly lap it even 

 the day before their death. He also notices the paralysis that often renders 

 their attempts to drink abortive. John Hunter, who was not accustomed to 

 state facts without examination, says, that " mad dogs can swallow solids and 

 liquids through the whole disease." Tram, of a Society for the Improvement 

 of Medical Knowledge, p. 296. Dr. Hamilton also has, " A rabid dog never 

 avoids water, and laps whatever liquid food is set before him, long after the 

 poison can be communicated by his bite." — Remarks on Hydrophobia, vol. i, 

 p. 12-16. " Cette chienne, avoit hu et mang6 apr^s avoir mordu." — Journal 

 de Mddecine, vol. xxxix. " Le loup mangeoit tranquillement une chevre, et 

 celui de Frejus traversa plusieurs fois de grandes rivieres a la nage." — Foy. 

 d'Jrluc, Recueil Periodique, vol. iv. " II est done dangereux de concleur de 

 ce qu'uu animal boit et mange et traverse une rividre, qu'il n'est point atteint 

 de la rage." — Trolliet, Nov. Trait, de la Rage, p. 276. 



It is incalculable the mischief that this sad but too common prejudice has 

 produced ; it has rendered thousands of persons miserable for months and 

 years even, while others it has lulled into a fatal security. Should a dog, from 

 an affection of any kind soever, be prevented from swallowing, he is imme- 

 diately pronounced naad, and he is unreluctantly destroyed, while dread pro- 

 bably remains in the mind of every one who has even been within his reach. 

 An unfortunate person, who may have been bitten by this same dog, for months 

 or even years before, is not exempt from the panic ; for among other popular 

 errors that are current, is, that if a dog becomes mad, any person, who may 

 have been formerly bitten by the animal, is equally in danger, as though it 

 had happened when the animal was really affected. On the other hand, if a 

 sick dog can drink, he is pronounced free from all danger of madness ; and so 

 universal has this opinion been, that Dr. H., an eminent physician, now in 

 very extensive practice in the western part of London, on being consulted by 

 a person actually bitten by a rabid dog, immediately inquired whether the dog 

 by which he had'been wounded could drink ; and, on being informed that he 

 could drink, he peremptorily pronounced that the dog could not he mad ; and 

 proceeded to recommend that no precautions whatever should be made use of. 

 This gentleman was guilty of a piece of professional presumption and igno- 



