CURABILITY AND TREATMENT OF ANIMAL INSANITY. 351 



provocative of the most furious forms of insanity. But such 

 absurdities of treatment were not confined to the middle 

 r ages. They are quite as common and quite as mischievous 

 in our own country at the present day, in the form, for 

 instance, of the ' hue and cry ' of the city populace after 

 some poor bewildered and belaboured, frightened and fugi- 

 tive, dog or ox. 



As a general rule, it may be asserted that the same kind 

 of treatment will produce the same kind of results in the 

 insanity of other animals as in that of man. And it is an 

 important practical fact that the treatment suitable for 

 insanity is pro tanto also proper for rabies and other diseases 

 with which insanity is so frequently confounded, some of 

 which are more serious than insanity itself. For both classes 

 of cases, the following procedure is plainly indicated : 



1. Isolation, in some cases with modified light, or in 

 the dark; solitary confinement, so that harm to other 

 animals, as to man, may become a physical impossibility. 



2. Close observation, especially in the early stages, or in 

 suspected or doubtful cases, with patient waiting for the de- 

 velopment of symptoms of a kind that will determine the 

 diagnosis. 



3. Perfect tranquillity. 



4. The removal of all causes of mental or physical 

 excitement ; for instance, of terror, in the form of disturbing 

 sights and sounds, persons or things. 



5. Proper nursing, housing, food, and drink, including 

 temperature, or warmth. 



6. Such medical, medicinal, or surgical treatment as may 

 be necessary, including the judicious use of drugs. 



There is the same danger in other animals, as in man, 

 however, of overdoing medical or surgical treatment. There is 

 such a thing as meddlesome or mischievous medicine and sur- 

 gery. The ease and rapidity with which animals frequently 

 or usually recover from serious illnesses or wounds, when 

 placed in favourable circumstances, afford strong presump- 

 tive evidence of the value of what is called the expectant 

 treatment, both in medicine and surgery ; that is, the patient 

 watching of nature, aiding her by following her indications 



