Facets relating to Hydrophobia. 157 
constricted pharynx, a little frothy mucus. Then again returned the 
rrible convulsions and shrieks not to be deserilied; and dreadful to 
behold, until she became gradually exhausted, and expired forty 
hours after the invasion of the disease, and fifty-seven days after the 
infliction of the wound. Several physicians saw the child, and no 
doubt was left on their minds as to the nature of the disease.” 
Such are some of the details in relation to this fearful disease. 
The list might be greatly extended, but these are deemed sufficient, 
to render highly probable the following conclusions respecting it. 
Animals known to have been exposed, or slightly suspected of the 
disease, ought to be immediately confined. On the decisive appear- 
ance of the disease, they ought to be immediately destroyed. Ther 
is an instinctive dread of animals infected with the disease, as there 
is of certain poisonous reptiles. Numbers, however, delight in ex- 
hibiting a useless bravery, in approaching them without sure means 
of defence at hand. It can never be safe, in any way to trifle with 
a poison, so deadly in its effects, and at the same time so easily con- 
veyed into the system. One moment the rabid animal may be qui- 
escent, and apparently harmless, and the next moved by convulsions, 
and a strong propensity to bite; to inflict a death wound on the un- 
suspecting being who shall be within its reach.t 
It appears evident that the transmissible poison is contained in the 
mucus or saliva of the diseased animal, and that the disease may be 
produced by almost any minute portion of this mucus or saliva, if it 
only come in contact with the-fluids of the system. ‘The poison also 
appears to be permanent, and active, at least, for a considerable 
time after the death of the diseased animal.{ No doubt therefore 
need remain, as to the active nature of the poison, or the ease with 
which it is transmitted. In the case of animals diseased or dead, it 
. Journal of Commerce, June 18, 1831. 2d page, Ist col. top. 
+ A dog which had imparted the disease to several domestic animals, sierwards 
approached his master, licked his hand, and su eal himself to be caressed, without 
offering to injure him. He suddenly turned from his master, to a little child stand- 
ing near, and in the act . biting her, was prevented, by a severe blow on the neck, 
from the child’s father, who was anxiously watching the motions of the dog. 
the case of tbe this fact is of general notoricty, as persons whe settee 
them, always sink the head toa great depth in the earth. The 
tile, applied to the outer bark of a green stick filled with sap, will produce no action. 
Ifa hole be made through the bark, and the poison be placed in contact with the 
sap, its rapid diffusion may be detected by the eye, since it will raise the bark as ; 
Proceeds, and render visible its actual progress, for some distance from the pls 
