276 SPECIFIC DISEASES. 



The period of incubation varies considerably in the differ- 

 ent species of animal, the shortest recorded in the dog being 

 seven days, the longest 155 days, while in sheep the disease 

 is liable to develop any time between fourteen days to eight 



months. 



Symptoms. 



The sheep will appear restless, evidences a desire for sexual 

 intercourse, is off its feed and rapidly runs down in flesh, soon be- 

 coming dull, a state of stupor developing. This is followed by a 

 state of great excitement. The sheep shows a desire to attack 

 whatever comes in its way, butting with its head to such an ex- 

 tent and with such violence as to produce severe injury, being 

 oblivious, however, to any pain. A frothy saliva dribbles from 

 the mouth, the appetite is depraved, and rumination is suspended 

 from the commencement of the disease. 



The sheep now manifests a desire to nibble and bite both 

 animate and inanimate objects; does not appear to dread water, 

 but is unable to swallow liquids. Muscular tremblings will be 

 observed, accompanied by rapid and shallow breathing; the seat 

 of inoculation appears to cause pain, evidenced by the sheep biting 

 and pulling the wool from the part. The violent symptoms are 

 quickly followed by paralysis of the hind extremities; coma sets 

 in, death iisually taking place between the sixth and eighth day 

 after the first apparent symptoms of disease were noticeable. 



Creatment. 



After the disease has once manifested itself medicinal treat- 

 ment will be devoid of beneficial results. Where several sheep 

 in a flock have been known to be bitten by a dog, supposed to be 

 rabid, they should be separated from the flock and kept apart 

 from all the other animals for at least three months. If rabies 

 does not develop in that time it would be safe to infer that they 

 had not been inoculated. 



