108 ON RABIES CANINA, OR DOG MADNESS. 



well-known cover Woolford Wood, the hounds were 

 joined by a cur-dog, which was observed by the 

 whipper-in to quarrel with and bite several of them. 

 By taking the precaution of separating the hounds, 

 upon the madness first breaking out, the remainder, 

 about fifteen couples of valuable bitches, were saved, 

 Thomas Day, the huntsman, was bitten in the hand, 

 while administering a ball to one after she had become 

 attacked, but a timely application of the knife, and 

 lunar caustic, effectually prevented any fatal conse- 

 quences.* As to the cure ; I don't believe that any 

 faith whatever can be placed in any remedy excepting 

 the knife and caustic, by a timely application of 

 which, the progress of the malady may be safely 

 arrested previous to the second circulation taking 

 place through the absorbents, and which is necessary 

 to enable the virus to produce " confirmed rabies." 



The second instance which 1 have to record, is the 

 destruction of part of Mr. Hall's hounds which hunted 

 Somersetshire. The malady was traced to a terrier 

 which belonged to the pack, and which had been 

 bitten by a wild-looking setter dog, during one of the 

 hunting days. The hounds were divided into a large 

 and a small pack, and it was the large pack which 

 were out on this unfortunate day ; amongst this lot 

 every single hound either died raving mad, or was 

 destroyed upon suspicion of having been bitten ; but 



* William Smith, huntsman to the Earl of Yarborough, has the credit of pos- 

 sessing a recipe which is a certain cure for the malady, and which has been handed 

 down from father to son for several crenerations. Whether it is infallible or not I 

 cannot pretend to say, but it is a well known fact that it has been frequently used 

 successfully, and amongst other patients who have availed themselves of it, we 

 may mention Jem Siiirley, the present huntsman to Sir J, Cope, who was bitten 

 by a mad dog some years since in Ireland. 



