154 Facts relating to Hydrophobia. 
This table is cited, not only as a specimen of useful research, but 
as furnishing palpable evidence of the gradual increase of the dis- 
ease, in a single country, in a period of ten years; the deaths by it 
being two hundred and fifty-two more in the tenth year, than in the 
first of the series. It also suggests that the disease continually finds 
victims to prey upon, among animals which roam in the forests. In 
this country, farmers have frequently destroyed foxes which fearlessly 
approached them in open day, without, perhaps, suspecting that they 
were rabid. From this species of animals, many dogs unquestiona- 
bly derive the disease, and transmit it to others, and they to other do- 
mestic animals, and to human beings. From the fact that the poison ~ 
is transmissible from one species of animals to another, and from an- 
imals to human beings, it appears highly probable that it may be 
transmitted from one human being to another. Man then, of all the 
animal creation, is most exposed to this fearful malady. He alone 
is endowed with reason to ascertain its nature, and use the means of 
self-preservation. ‘To contribute, in some degree, to this object, is 
all that this article attempts. rae 
The following cases, it is believed, are well authenticated. ‘They 
are quoted with names, dates and references, so that if any error 
exists, it may be easily discovered. “aad 
1. Hydrophobia from the hair of a rabid animal. ‘Time of the 
virus lurking, eight or ten weeks. “se 
A young man, named Morehead, suddenly expired at Cincinnati, 
on the 3d of May, 1831. It is stated that all the usual characteris- 
tics of the disease were manifested during his short illness, and that 
a subsequent examination of the body, satisfied the four physic 
who attended him, that the case was precisely such an one as is pro- 
duced by. the bite of a mad dog; although it was ascertained that he 
had never been bitten by one. He was a tanner by trade. As Se¥- 
eral domestic animals had died of hydrophobia during the winter, 
is supposed that one of them, which had besmeared its own hair with 
saliva, had been skinned, and its hide sent to the tan yard, where the 
poison might have been imparted to those who handled, it. . The 
opinion of professional gentlemen is, that the poison, applied to the 
sound skin, cannot excite the disease, but the victim, in this instances 
had a burn on one of his fingers, and the sore had a scab on it at the 
time of his death.* Ss 
* New York Observer, June 18, 1831. _ Pa 5 
