240 RABIES CANINA, 



modern times, with no better success. Bleeding largely was an 

 ancient remedy, which has been revived by the moderns ; and on 

 the authority of some reputedly successful cases, but now ques- 

 tioned, I was induced to try it to its fullest extent (ad deliquium) 

 on two or three rabid dogs. Mr. Youatt has done the same, and 

 in every instance with a mitigation of its violence, but in no one of 

 permanent benefit^. It therefore appears to act in these instances, 

 as in all others where much violence had been committed on the 

 constitution, by a suspension of the morbid action of the disease. 

 Of electricity and galvanism, as applied for the cure of rabies, I 

 have no experience ; it has, however, been fully tried in the human 

 subject without success. Vinegar, which, in Germany, was said 

 (but I believe erroneously) to have arrested the human disease, 

 has failed in dogs, in every instance in which it has been made use 

 of. Mercury I have also tried to its fullest extent, and in most of 

 its popular forms, without the smallest benefit. Camphor and 

 opium, both by the mouth and per ano, have proved equally inert 

 in these cases*. With the belladonna I succeeded no better ; and 

 the alisma plantago, or water plantain, has proved equally unsuc- 

 cessfiil with Mr. Youatt, who, however, observes that it usually 

 mitigated the symptoms ; as did also the belladonna. The Scutel- 

 laria lateriflora, so highly recommended by Dr. Spalding of New 

 York, Mr. Youatt has not succeeded with ; but he yet considers 

 that it deserves more trial, from the decided effects it produced in 

 the cases on which he tried it. The internal and external exhibi- 

 tion of the volatile alkali has not been more fortunate, although 

 the analogy of its beneficial effects in cases of poisoning by the bite 



3 M. Gossier, Professor of the Veterinary School of Lyons, also employed 

 bleeding on three dogs to deliquium, without success. It is, however, to be 

 remembered, that in the human subject it is said to have cured the complaint 

 in one or two instances in India. In a case related in The Lancet, it pro- 

 tracted the fatal course till the fourteenth day : and though the Asiatic cases 

 are rather doubtful, it has evidently some restraining power. 



* Professor Dupuytren injected opium in solution into the veins of two 

 rabid dogs, but without any alleviation of the symptoms. — Dissert, de Ch. 

 Bitsnovt, Paris, 181 4. 



