190 ON ANIMAL AND 



quently hear of dogs and of other animals be- 

 coming rabid, or of individuals being bitten by 

 such animals, yet hydrophobia in the human 

 species is a very rare disease ; insomuch that 

 many physicians, of very high reputation and of 

 most extensive practice, have closed a long life 

 without once witnessing its symptoms ; among 

 whom may be mentioned the celebrated Dr. Cul- 

 len of Edinburgh, Dr. William Heberden senior, 

 of London, and others whose names do not im* 

 mediately recur to us. But as the disease is 

 always liable to happen after the bite of a rabid 

 animal, it is highly important that we be ac- 

 quainted with its character, and with the means 

 we possess of guarding against its consequences. 

 Hydrophobia, which is derived from two Greek 

 words, that combined, signify a dread of water, is 

 a term that does not convey a clear idea of the 

 disease on which we now propose to treat. Since 

 it merely refers to one single symptom, in which 

 the patient has no aversion to water, but on the 

 contrary, from his extreme thirst, he has a most 

 anxious wish to indulge in its use ; but in conse- 

 quence of the muscles concerned in deglutition, 

 being painfully affected, which renders swallow- 

 ing a matter of great difficulty, and of fluid arti* 

 cles when swallowed, occasioning a greater ac- 

 tion in those muscles, then such as are solid ; the 

 dread of the patient arises from the association 

 naturally produced, when water, or any other 



