260 RABIES CANINA. 



tlear that he was alive to one impression only, which was a con- 

 viction of his danger; and consequently no advice could reach his 

 imagination which did not recognise the same : and none could 

 arouse him which did not at the same time point out, with great 

 confidence, a ready and certain means of averting this fancied 

 danger. On this principle, with the consent of his lady, I acted ; 

 and when I heard from himself the particulars of his case, that he 

 was certain it was impossible he could escape from hydrophobia, 

 having had both his hands repeatedly licked by his dog, and that, 

 in fact, he already felt the poison at work, which would soon do 

 its worst, I could but be concerned to observe what havock one 

 idea only, constantly and erroneously entertained, could make even 

 on a strong mind. I, however, treated the matter most gravely, 

 condoled with him on the danger incurred, and which I abstained 

 from in any wise lessening ; but, at the same time, I ventured on 

 an assurance, that, imminent as it was, it was not too late to avert 

 it : on the contrary, that long after the time which had elapsed in 

 his case, I had treated several others, every one of which had ter- 

 minated successfully ; and that, if he would submit to have the 

 whole surface of the back of both hands cauterised, I would ensure 

 his safety. He immediately fell in with this idea ; it was a call 

 from the grave, as it were : and I proceeded at once to prepare for 

 the operation by softening his hands in warm water ; after which, 

 I smeared them over with the fusible caustic potash, so as eflfectu- 

 ally to erode the cuticle, without entering very deep. Both hands 

 were then wrapped in poultice : he took a gentle opiate that night, 

 and a laxative in the morning. I repeated the process the second 

 day, but more slightly, and again on the fourth day. The day fol- 

 lowing the first operation I dined at his house, when he ate the 

 first solid food he had tasted for a fortnight, was composed, and 

 even cheerful ; in fine, from that time a new train was given to his 

 thought : hope took the place of fear ; next, certainty succeeded to 

 hope ; and, in three weeks, he was again in his counting-house. 



