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THE SKYE TERRIER. 



to that terrible disease called " Hydrophobia," which at times arises among the canine 

 race, and converts the trusted companion into an involuntary foe. From some cause, 

 which at present is quite unexplained, the bite of a Dog which is affected with this 

 terrible malady, or even the mere contact of his saliva with a broken skin, becomes 

 endued with such deadly virulence, that the unfortunate person upon whom such an 

 injury is inflicted is as certain to die as if he had been struck by the poison-fangs of 

 the rattlesnake or cobra. 



As far as is known, this dread malady appears to originate only in the canine tribe, 

 being communicable to almost every other description of animal, man not excepted, 

 and dooming them to a most painful illness and death. It is worthy of consideration, 

 that the Dog does not perspire through the skin, and that the tongue and throat offer 

 the only means by which the animal can avail itself of that needful exhalation. The 

 symptoms of this malady are rather various in different individuals, but yet are of the 

 same type in all, 



SKYE TERRIER. -Caa/s famlliarls. 



There is an entire change of manner in the animal. The affectionate, caressing Dog 

 becomes suddenly cross, shy, and snappish ; retreating from the touch of the friendly 

 hand as if it were the hand of a stranger. His appetite becomes depraved, and, for- 

 saking his ordinary food, he eagerly swallows pieces of stick, straws, or any other in- 

 nutritious substances that may lie in his way. He is strangely restless, seeming unable 

 to remain in the same position for two seconds together, and continually snaps at 

 inaginary objects which his disordered senses image in rapid succession before his eyes. 

 Strange voices seem to fall upon his ears, and he ever and anon starts up and listens 

 eagerly to the sounds which so powerfully affect him. Generally, he utters at intervals 

 a wild howl, which tells its fearful tale even to unpractised ears, but in some cases the 

 Dog remains perfectly silent during the whole of his illness, and is then said to be 

 afflicted with the dumb madness. In most instances, the Dog is silent during the latter 

 stages of the illness. 



Before the disease has developed itself to any extent, the poor creature becomes 

 thoughtful and anxious, and looks with wistful eyes upon his friends, as if beseeching 

 them to aid him in the unknown evil that hangs so heavily upon him. He then retires to 



