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RABIES 



or not at all. There is perhaps no other disease in which the 

 symptoms may vary more than in rabies of the dog. 



Furious rabies. The symptoms appear very gradually. 

 The animal's habits and behavior are changed. It may be 

 more restless or affectionate than usual, seeking to be near its 

 master or mistress, fawning, licking the hand or face and 

 apparently seeking sympathy and assistance. Such caresses 

 are, however, extremely dangerous, for the animal's tongue, 

 moist with virulent saliva, coming in contact with a part 

 where the skin is thin, abraded or wounded, may fatally infect 

 the person to whom it is endeavoring to demonstrate its affec- 

 tion. The reported cases in which rabies have developed from 

 such inoculations are quite numerous. 



In most cases dogs first become dull, gloomy, morose, 

 seeking solitude and isolation in out-of-the-way places or retir- 

 ing under pieces of furniture. But in their retirement they 

 cannot rest, they are uneasy and agitated, they lie down and 

 assume the attitude of repose, but in a few minutes they are 

 up walking about "seeking rest, but finding none." Occa- 

 sionally this restlessness may disappear for a time and the 

 animal becomes lively and affectionate ; oftener it sinks into a 

 sullen gloominess from which even its master's voice rouses it 

 but temporarily. At this period dogs may have aberrations of 

 the senses which cause hallucinations and lead them to think 

 they are being annoyed by something or that some animal or 

 person is endeavoring to injure them. They crouch ready to 

 spring upon the enemy ; they rush forward and snap at the 

 air ; they throw themselves, howling and furious, against the 

 wall as though they heard sounds beyond it. 



While at first the affected dog may not be disposed to bite, 

 it becomes more dangerous as its hallucinations and delirium 

 increase. 



The disturbance of the sensations leads to chills and itch- 

 ing. If the place where the bite occurred is accessible, the 

 dog licks the scar and later may bite and tear the tissues. In 

 this case it bites into its own flesh with apparent pleasure and 

 satisfaction. Food is taken at first if it is something that can 



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