DISEASES OF THE BLOOD. 181 



lants combined with vegetable tonics. During tlie stage 

 of convalescence mineral tonics, liberal diet, and fresh air. 

 Nutritive and laxatives enemas are rendered particularly 

 useful by the swollen and irritable state of the fauces. 

 The ulcerations may be treated with solution of carbolic 

 acid or chloride of zinc, and the same application may be 

 made to any exposed keratogenous structures. Death 

 gradually occurs in less than a week after the attack. 



Eabies (erroneously called Hydeophobia). — The poison 

 which exists in its greatest virulency in the saliva of the 

 mad dog induces disease when introduced by inoculation 

 into the system of the ox. It has been proved that from 

 the latter animal the disease may be conveyed to man by 

 the saliva falling on an abraded surface. The virus of 

 rabies is remarkable in many respects. Thus, its incuba- 

 tory period is long, usually in the ox about a fortnight, 

 but in man it has been found to extend over years. In 

 this respect rabies reminds us of scrofula and cancer. It 

 is held by most authorities that the virus remains during 

 this time undergoing changes at the seat of introduction, 

 and this view, is confirmed by the local irritation almost 

 invariably present when acute symptoms set in, which 

 again reminds us of the above-mentioned diseases. Many 

 animals are able to resist the virus, so that often true 

 inoculations do not result in acute symptoms, and it seems 

 that the virulence very soon passes from the carcase. 



Symptoms. — Some three weeks or so after the animal 

 has been bitten it manifests general signs of disorder 

 and is very excitable, and probably the sexual func- 

 tions are perverted, as indicated by increased sexual 

 appetite, especially in the male. The appetite is depraved, 

 the faeces scanty, and the patient is either in a dull state or 

 vicious, charging at and '^ riding '' other cattle, and occa- 

 sionally attempting to bite them. The excitement becomes 

 more marked, the patient bellows, but the voice is said to be 

 altered in tone. A profuse discharge of frothy saliva 

 flows from the mouth, there is a constant champing of the 

 jaws, the eyes are projecting, and the conjunctivae injected. 

 Painful tenesmus is present. This lasts for some time. 



