190 CAUSATION OF MENTAL 



at least probable that rabies is occasionally primary or 

 spontaneous; and this probability is supported by the fact 

 that it can be produced artificially (Toppolin). Among the 

 causes other than the bites of rabid animals that are 

 stated to have produced, singly or in combination, or that 

 have assisted in producing, rabies in various animals, are the 

 following, according to Fleming and St. Cyr : 



1. Mental anxiety, agitation, or excitement. 



2. Disappointments, and the emotion of grief produced 

 thereby. 



3. The passions of anger or jealousy especially. 



4. Terror, especially if sudden, including the forcible 

 startling or awakening from sleep. 



5. Eivalry and fights. 



6. Scolds or upbraiding. 



7. Nervousness, or nervous irritability, in certain breeds 

 of dogs. 



8. Luxurious life ; confinement, with its want of exer- 

 cise ; and unwholesome food. 



9. Sexual excitement or irritation, including excessive 

 or even natural sexual ardour ; non-gratification or incom- 

 plete gratification of the sexual instinct ; castration. 



10. Physical pain of all kinds. 



It is important to bear in mind that mechanical, like 

 personal, restraint applied by man e.g., the use of the 

 muzzle in the dog is apt to produce, especially in hot 

 weather, ferocity, mania, or rabies (Pierquin). 



Certain alleged causes are quite as properly to be re- 

 garded as forms of mental disturbance for instance, anger, 

 fear, jealousy, ferocity; or they may be causes in certain 

 cases and forms in others. Much depends on their duration 

 as well as intensity. Thus in other animals, as in man, 

 there can be no doubt that ira furor brevis est. This state- 

 ment is specially applicable to the case of emotional disturb- 

 ance, to all extravagance, exuberance, or excess of feeling, 

 emotion, or passion, whether of an exciting kind, such as 

 joy, or a depressing character, such as grief. Even in their 

 ordinary degrees or forms fear, anger, or other passions or 

 emotions, while described as common causes of excitement 



