120 DISEASES OF THE GREYHOUND. 



spite of all precautions, there is great risk. Boys will be boys, 

 and will rush into danger, merely for its own sake. Bites have 

 taken place by animals apparently so safely confined as to lull all 

 fears of such an unfortunate result. The best plan, therefore, is 

 the safest, and also the most humane for the dog, namely, to shoot 

 him at once, and put him out of a miserable existence, for the 

 disease is a very painful one in most cases. 



PREVENTIVE MEASURES IN MAN. As all greyhound proprietors 

 are liable to have the disease in their kennel, they are of course 

 subject to the bite of a rabid dog. In such a case I should strongly 

 recommend them to suck the wound, if possible, and if they have 

 reason to believe that they have sound gums, and no crack or ul- 

 ceration of the mouth. A very easy way of ascertaining this point 

 is to take some common salt into the mouth, and if no smarting 

 occurs, then the surface is sure to be sound ; and, on washing out 

 the mouth, the sucking of the wound may be safely commenced, 

 taking care to spit out the saliva, and to wash the mouth out with 

 warm water immediately afterwards. As soon as this is done, I 

 should advise recourse to be had to the nearest surgeon, who 

 should be requested to excise the part immediately, if possible, 

 and then to apply the nitrate of silver freely. Mr. Youatt is of 

 opinion that excision does more harm than good, but his ex- 

 perience is opposed to that of the whole medical profession in 

 Great Britain and the Continent. 



The above short and hurried account of rabies is all that is 

 necessary for the owner of the greyhound. I have, however, 

 endeavoured to give sufficient explanations to enable my reader? 



