258 RABIES CANINA, 



thus, there is little reason for all the alarm that is felt. The dis- 

 ease never makes its first appearance with any mischievous ten- 

 dency : indeed, so little danger is there from the early stage of 

 the complaint, that I should entertain no fear whatever were I 

 confined altogether day and night in the same room with half a 

 dozen dogs, all duly inoculated with rabid virus. The slightest de- 

 gree of attention will always detect some peculiarity in the affected 

 dog's manner — some departure from his usual habits; and this 

 may be observed one day at least, commonly two days, before the 

 more active symptoms commence, or before any mischievous dis- 

 position shews itself ; and which, at the worst, is not often prac 

 tised towards those they are habituated to, if not meddled with. 

 In a great number of the cases that occur, no mischievous disposi- 

 tion at all appears towards human persons through the whole 

 complaint, except it be called forth by opposition and violence ; 

 which consideration tends to reduce danger still more materially. 

 It ought likewise, in no small degree, to lessen the dread and fear 

 of this malady, even when the worst has happened and a 

 human person has been unfortunately bitten by a rabid animal, 

 that a ready, simple, and eflficacious remedy is still at hand, the 

 application of which is attended with little inconvenience, while 

 the consequences are certainly productive of all the safety that 

 can be wished for. On this immediate part of the subject, how- 

 ever, I am well aware that intense mental dread is often excited. 

 From simple fear of the consequences many have died; many 

 others have been rendered temporarily insane, and some perma- 

 nently so. Would I could instil into such minds the uncertainty 

 of the disease appearing at all ; that is, even when no means have 

 been used ; and the perfect security they may feel who have sub- 

 mitted to the preventive treatment detailed. I have been bitten 

 several times, — Mr. Youatt several also ; yet in neither of us was 

 any dread occasioned : our experience taught us the absolute cer- 

 tainty of the preventive means ; and such I take on me to pro- 

 nounce they always prove, when performed with dexterity and 

 judgment. It unfortunately happens that these prejudices and 



