248 RABIES CANINA, 



would introduce to the reader Mr. Youatt's account of the skull-cap 

 (Scutellaria lateriflora), first brought into notice by Dr. Spalding, 

 of New York, who says he has administered it, with invariable 

 success, in no less than eight hundred cases, and in several of 

 these cases the disease had actually commenced its career. His 

 method of giving it was, by infusing a tea-spoonful and a half of 

 the powdered leaf in a quart of hot water ; of which he ordered 

 half a pint to be taken morning and night, omitting the dose every 

 third day, when a mild purge of sulphur was given. Mr. Youatt 

 has, however, found it more efficacious to combine the belladonna 

 in the proportion of half an ounce to a pound of the Scutellaria ; 

 of which he observes, " The result has been, a medicine which 

 I cann6t, dare not, call a specific, for it has failed ; but the use of 

 which, in cases of doubt and fear, I would most earnestly recom- 

 mend." For dogs, he begins with a drachm ball for one of a 

 moderate size, containing two scruples of the Scutellaria, and about 

 two and a half grains of the belladonna : this is given morning 

 and night. On the second week, two balls are given ; on the 

 third, three ; and this plan is continued for six weeks. The ani- 

 mals seldom cease to eat, but they rapidly lose flesh. The pro- 

 portions made use of for the human subject Mr. Youatt does not 



indeed, would be a quack ; let the profession hunt him down without regret ; but 

 let them not assume (fallible as all our opinions on medicine are proved to be) 

 that there is no " balm in Israel ;" no constitutional means of rendering the 

 system non- susceptible to the received virus. Boerhaave thought there might 

 he ; analogy gives us reason to expect there is: then let our endeavours to bring 

 it to light be general, and not fettered with school prejudices or professional 

 exclusiveness. 



Granted, as it ever must be, that the removal of the inoculated portion should 

 supersede all other preventive means, are there no cases where it is impera- 

 tive to lay hold also of every other assistance, as in extensive lacerations, 

 where the complete extirpation is rendered doubtful, under every caution ? 

 when the eyelids are wounded also, or where insuperable dread exists to an 

 operation which may involve the whole limb ? Such cases do occur ; and also 

 the most apparently judicious application both of the knife and caustic has 

 failed. Might not these cases have been saved, had some other preventive been 

 also added to the treatment ? 



