RABIES. 135 



for every thing that is filthy and horrible. The natural appetite generally 

 fails entirely, and to it succeeds a strangely depraved one. The dog 

 usually occupies himself with gathering every little bit of thread, and it is 

 curious to observe with what eagerness and method he sets to work, and 

 how completely he effects his object. He then attacks every kind of dirt 

 and filth, horse-dung, his own dung, and human excrement. Some breeds 

 of spaniels are very filthy feeders without its being connected with disease, 

 but the rabid dog eagerly selects the excrement of the horse, and his own. 

 Some considerable care, however, must be exercised here. At the period 

 of dentition, and likewise at the commencement of the sexual affection, 

 the stomach of the dog, and particularly that of the bitch, sympathises 

 with, or shares in, the irritability of the gums, and of the constitution gene- 

 rally, and there is a considerably perverted appetite. The dog also feels 

 the same propensity that influences the child, that of taking hard sub- 

 stances into the mouth, and seemingly trying to masticate them. Their 

 pressure on the gums facilitates the passage of the new teeth. A young 

 dog will, therefore, be observed gathering up hard substances, and, if he 

 should chance to die, a not inconsiderable collection of them is sometimes 

 found in the stomach. They are, however, of a peculiar character ; they 

 consist of small pieces of bone, stick, and coal. 



The contents of the stomach of the rabid dog, are often, or generally, 

 of a most filthy description. Some hair or straw is usually found, but the 

 greater part is composed of horse-dung, or of his own dung, and it may be 

 received as a certainty, that if he is found deliberately devouring it, he 

 is rabid. 



Some very important conclusions may be drawn from the appearance 

 and character of the urine. The dog, and at particular times when he is 

 more than usually salacious, may, and does diligently search the urining 

 places ; he may even, at those periods, be seen to lick the spot which 

 another has just wetted ; but, if a peculiar eagerness accompanies this 

 strange employment, if, in the parlour, which is rarely disgraced by this 

 evacuation, every corner is perseveringly examined, and licked with un- 

 wearied and unceasing industry, that dog cannot be too carefully watched, 

 there is great danger about him ; he may, without any other symptom be 

 pronounced to be decidedly rabid. I never knew a single mistake about 

 this. 



Much has been said of the profuse discharge of saliva from the mouth 

 of the rabid dog. It is an undoubted fact that, in this disease, all the glands 

 concerned in the secretion of saliva, become increased in bulk and vascu- 

 larity. The sublingual glands wear an evident character of inflammation ; 

 but it never equals the increased discharge that accompanies epilepsy, or 

 nausea. The frothy spume at the corners of the mouth, is not for a mo- 

 ment to be compared with that which is evident enough in both of these 

 affections. It is a symptom of short duration, and seldom lasts longer 

 than twelve hours. The stories that are told of the mad dog covered with 

 froth, are altogether fabulous. The dog recovering from, or attacked by a 

 fit, may be seen in this state ; but not the rabid dog. Fits are often mis- 

 taken for rabies, and hence the delusion. 



The increased secretion of saliva soon passes away. It lessens in 

 quantity ; it becomes thicker, viscid, adhesive, and glutinous. It clings 

 to the corners of the mouth, and probably more annoyingly so to the 

 membrane of the fauces. The human being is sadly distressed by it, he 



