Facts relating to Hydrophohia. IST? 



constricted pharynx, a little frothy mucus. Then again returned th^i 

 horrible convulsions and shrieks not to be described, and dreadful to 

 behold, until she became gradually exhausted, and expired forty 

 hours after the invasion of the disease, and fifty-seven days after tha 

 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. There 

 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. f 



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. J No doubt therefore 

 need remain, as to the active nature of the poison, or the ease with 

 which it is transmitted. In ihe case of animals diseased or dead, it 



* Journal of Commerce, June IS, 1331. 2d page, 1st col. top. 



t A dog which had imparted the disease to several domestic animals, afterwards 

 approached his master, licked his hand, and suffered 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 of 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. 



t In the case of reptiles, this fact is of general notoriety, as persons who destroy 

 them, always sink the head to a great depth in the earth. The poison of a dead rep- 

 tile, applied to the outer bark of a green stick filled with sap, will produce no action. 

 If a 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 it 

 proceeds, and render visible its actual progress, for some distance from the place of 

 Contact. 



