OR CANINE MADNESS. 225 



The Taciturn Rabies. 



Dumb madness forms the other and most frequent variety in 

 adult dogs, and which cases appear dependent on a less degree 

 of active sensorial excitement, but with greater morbid afifection 

 of the bowels. The symptoms which succeed to the premonitory 

 ones, are often rapid ; and superadded to the dull, heavy, and 

 distressed countenance, costiveness, &c., there appears a stiffness 

 about the jaws, and a hollow sound is emitted in breathing, which 

 is rather performed by the mouth than the nose, that being plugged 

 up with pus, or the arch of communication being straightened by 

 tumefaction. As the whole of the pharynx and larynx becomes 

 tumefied to the full extent, the muscles at the base of the tongue, 

 and those of the lower jaw, are rendered inert ; the mouth remains 

 open, and the tongue hangs pendulous without; and sometimes 

 there exists an actual inability to close the jaws A congestion of 

 blood is the necessary consequence of the distention of the parts, 

 and the tongue from this cause usually appears, in these cases, 

 livid or almost black, particularly towards its apex or point : fre- 

 quently a black central line extends through its whole length. 

 This state of the parts occasions often a difficulty, sometimes a 

 total inabihty even, to swallow either liquids or solids. In general, 

 however, the inability is principally confined to liquids, which are, 

 in such instances, returned as fast as they are lapped, from the in- 

 capacity of the tongue to carry it into the pharynx ; but in no in- 

 stance, as already insisted on, do the attempts to swallow appear 

 to excite apprehension or give pain. The mouth itself is mostly 

 parched and dry ; occasionally, however, it is seen with saliva con- 

 tinually flowing from it^*. It is the tumefaction of the pharynx 



*^ In most cases an increased salivary flow arises at some period of the com- 

 plaint, which is not frequently lasting, but is succeeded by a viscid bronchial 

 secretion, that appears to irritate the dog beyond endurance; and to remove 

 which he often employs himself with the utmost violence, in forcing his paws 

 against his mouth, as dogs do when a bone is lodged between the teeth. 



P 



