DISEASES OP DOGS. 285 



the popular remedies of profuse bleedings, strong mercurial and ar- 

 senical doses, vinegar, partial drowning, night shade, water plan- 

 tain, &c. he therefore recommends the attention to be principally 

 directed towards the prevention of the malady. 



260. The preventive treatment of rabies or madness, is according 

 to Blaine, always an easy process in the human subject, from the 

 immediate part bitten, being easily detected ; in which case the 

 removal of the part by excision or cautery is an effectual remedy. 

 But unfortunate for the agriculturist, it is not easy to detect the 

 bitten parts in cattle, nor in dogs ; and it would be therefore most 

 desirable if a certain internal preventive were generally known. 

 Dr. Mead's powder, the Ormskirk powder, sea bathing, and many 

 other nostrums are deservedly in disrepute : while a few country 

 remedies, but little known beyond their immediate precincts, have 

 maintained some character. Conceiving that these must all pos- 

 sess some ingredient in common, he was at pains to discover it : 

 and which he appears to have realized by obtaining among others 

 the compositions of Webb's Watford drink. In this mixture, which 

 is detailed below, he considers the active ingredient to be the buxus 

 or box, which has been known as a prophylactic as^ong as the 

 times of Hippocrates and Celsus, who both mention it. The reel, 

 pe detailed below has been administered to nearly three hundred 

 animals of different kinds, as horses, cows, sheep, swine and dogs : 

 and appears to have succeeded in nineteen out of every twenty cases 

 where it was fairly taken and kept on the stomach. It appears 

 also equally efficacious in the human subject ; in which case he 

 advises the extirpation of the bitten parts also. The box preven- 

 tive is thus directed to be prepared : Take of the fresh leaves of 

 the tree-box, two ounces; of the fresh leaves of rue, two ounces; of 

 sage, half an ounce ; chop these fine and boil in a pint of water to 

 half a pint ; strain carefully, and press out the liquor very firmly ; 

 put back the ingredients into a pint of milk, and boil again to half 

 a pint ; strain as before ; mix both liquors, which forms three do- 

 ses for a human subject. Double this quantity is proper for a horse 

 or cow. Two-thirds of the quantity is sufficient for a large, dog ; 

 half for a middling sized, and one-third for a small dog. Three do- 

 ses are sufficient, giving each subsequent morning fasting, the quan- 

 tity directed being that which forms these three doses. As it some- 

 times produces strong effects on dogs, it may be proper to begin 

 with a small dose, but in the case of dogs we hold it always pru- 

 dent to increase the dose till the effects are evident, by the sick- 

 ness, panting, and uneasiness of the dog. In the human subject 

 where this remedy appears equally efficacious, we have neVer wic- 

 nessed any unpleasant or artive effects, neither are such obsarveci 



