26 THE DOGS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



the animal at once : for though excision may most probably prevent the occurrence 

 of the disease, no risk should be run. In man, immediate excision, followed by 

 caustic, should always be had recourse to, previously taking care to suck the wound, 

 with a mouth free from ulcers, to discover which put a little salt in the mouth, 

 when it will by its smarting show their existence, if there are any. It is supposed 

 that confinement is the cause of the disease ; and I am strongly inclined to believe 

 that such is the case, as in those countries where dogs are suffered to be at large, 

 rabies is an unknown disease. A wooden caustic case, containing a pointed piece 

 of lunar caustic, is sold by all chemists, and should be carried in the pocket by 

 those who run any risk of a bite from a rabid dog. 



The average time elapsing between innoculation and the appearance of the 

 disease is about two or three months. It has been known to break out in less than 

 three weeks ; and, on the other hand, not till fully six months after the reputed 

 bite. 



TETANUS 



Is a disease very similar in its nature to rabies, but manifesting itself in spasms 

 of the muscles, rather than in general irritability of them. I have, however, only 

 seen one case in the dog, which was the result of a severe injury, and it is said to 

 be very rare indeed. No remedy seems to exert any power over it any more than 

 over rabies itself. Chloroform, by inhalation, might be tried ; but I can scarcely 

 expect any good result in the dog, when its effects on the human being are so far 

 from satisfactory. 



TIJENSIDE 



Appears to be an inflammation of one side of the brain only, producing a ten- 

 dency to turn round in a circle, like " the gidd" of sheep. It is rather a rare 

 disease, and is easily recognised by the above characteristic sign. There is no 

 apparent constitutional disturbance, and the dog eats much as usual; but the 

 moment he attempts to walk he begins to turn round. In a case which I saw some 

 years ago, the dog recovered by the use of a seton, with purgatives, followed by 

 nitrate of silver, given three times a day in a pill, as follows : 



Nitrate of silver, carefully powdered, 2 grains ; crumb of bread, enough to 

 make eight pills. 



INFLAMMATIONS OF THE EYE. 



The EYE is the seat of various inflammations, coming on from causes totally 

 distinct from one another. Thus, in distemper, there is generally an inflammation, 

 with discharge, and sometimes the inexperienced attendant will fear that the eye 

 will be lost ; but if the dog recovers his strength, the eye, in almost all cases, is 

 restored also, and especially if it is not interfered with. If, on the other hand, an 

 attempt is made to apply remedies, with the intention of saving the sight, the effect 

 is the reverse of good, and the disease is aggravated so far as often to cause the 

 ulceration to extend through the cornea, and destroy the eye. In ordinary 

 ophthalmia, arising from cold, there is considerable injection of the vessels of the 



