310 9 DOGS: THEIR MANAGEMENT. 



There is also something which must not be quite over- 

 looked in the habitual wanderings that, as the disease 

 grows in virulence beyond the dog's control, causes the 

 animal constantly to leave the home within which its 

 attachment resides. There is something likewise in the 

 disposition, which causes the poor beast to quit the 

 society of all it loves ; and to leave the house in which 

 those for whom its life would cheerfully be sacrificed 

 dwell, to inhabit a dark and noisome corner. It is not 

 mischief which makes the creature respond to its master's 

 voice so long as memory has power even after rabies 

 has set in. There is no malice in the end of the disease ; 

 it is blind and indiscriminate fury, which would much 

 rather vent itself on things than upon beings even find- 

 ing an unholy pleasure in injuring itself by gnawing, 

 biting, and tearing its own flesh ; and so truly is the fury 

 blind, that most frequently the eyes ulcerate, the humors 

 escape, and the rabid dog becomes actually sightless. 



Of the causes or treatment of this disorder we know- 

 nothing ; neither are we likely to learn, when the nature 

 of the disease is considered. The danger of the study 

 must excuse our ignorance ; nor is this much to be re- 

 gretted, since it is highly improbable that medicine could 

 cure what is so deeply seated and universally present. 

 The entire glandular structure seems to be in the highest 

 degree inflamed ; and besides these, the brain, the organs 

 of mastication, deglutition, digestion, nutrition, genera- 

 tion, and occasionally of respiration, are acutely in- 

 volved. The entire animal is inflamed. Some except 



