KABIES DIAGNOSIS TREATMENT. 119 



and therefore we should never run the risk which the occurrence 

 of any case of rabies inevitably causes to the attendants upon the 

 dog, but at once do everything in our power to prevent so dire a 

 calamity as the communication to a fellow-creature. Even though 

 the risk be only as one to twenty-one of those bitten, as supposed 

 by John Hunter, or as one to twenty-five, as given by Dr. Hamilton, 

 still that risk must not be incurred. But this proportion is 

 now considered too small, and in one well-ascertained case of 

 seventeen persons bitten by a wolf at Brive in France, ten. died 

 of rabies. 



DIAGNOSIS. From the peculiar nature of the symjitionis; detailed 

 above, it must be clear that rabies can scarcely be mistaken for 

 any other disease, except in the very early stage. I have already 

 dilated upon the difference between it and distemper, and, except 

 tetanus and simple phrenitis of the latter really exists, there is 

 no other affection which resembles it at all ; but if the slightest 

 suspicion exists, it is better to call in the aid of the best authority 

 in the neighbourhood, and act by his advice and assistance. 



TREATMENT. This is out of the question in the canine race. 

 There is every reason for supposing that it would be totally nuga- 

 tory, but it is so utterly impossible to carry out any remedial 

 measures without risk to the attendant, which nothing can justify, 

 that it is better to abandon all hope, even when the dog can be 

 allowed to remain in a safe and secluded asylum. A few cases of 

 recovery are recorded, and therefore perhaps there may be some 

 encouragement to leave the dog to his fate, supplying him only 

 with water and food, when this can be done with safety ; but in 



