186 SPECIAL EQUINE THERAPY 



being bitten by other infected animals is comparatively- 

 small; I would place it at less than 25 per cent in the 

 case of horses. (A capable veterinary pathologist of my 

 acquaintance held that the infection is never transmitted 

 in the bite of a horse. It was later possible for me to 

 explode this theory in my own practice, to his entire 

 satisfaction.) 



Symptoms. Almost without exception rabies in the 

 horse takes what is known as the furious form. Usually 

 a history can be obtained that connects the development 

 of the symptoms with a dog bite or, occasionally, a bite 

 from a horse. Although many writers report itching in 

 the region of the bite at the first symptom, I can not say 

 that this always holds true. In some cases in my practice 

 this early symptom was entirely absent. In my expe- 

 rience the most constant and reliable early symptom has 

 been a nervous, spasmodic retraction of the commissures 

 of the mouth. Simultaneously with this, or very soon 

 thereafter, there is ptosis of one eyelid, sometimes so 

 slight that it is barely noticeable ; but it is there. With 

 this there is, in quite a few cases, a marked difference in 

 the size of the pupils. I have been able to demonstrate 

 one or aU of these symptoms very early in the course of 

 this disease in every instance coming to my attention. 



Soon after the manifestation of the foregoing symptoms 

 the horse becomes restless; the ears are moving almost 

 constantly, and pawing, neighing, defecation, urination 

 and other acts are performed repeatedly in rapid suc- 

 cession. There are contractions of the skin, which occur 

 spasmodically, in various parts of the body. (In not a 

 few cases there are symptoms at about this stage which 

 resemble an attack of acute indigestion. This phase 

 does not remain long, however; the colicky pains gradu- 

 ally assume greater violence and end in maniacal out- 

 bursts of ferocity.) If the horse is now offered a drink 



