Specific and Contagious Diseases. 161 
&c., without which no investigation can be said to be 
complete. 
In animals recently bitten by a rabid dog, and summarily 
destroyed, the post-mortem appearances afford no evidence 
of rabies. The simple reason for this is that sufficient 
time has not been allowed for the development of the 
actual disease. Without disease there can be no alteration 
or destruction of tissue. For similar reasons the inoculation 
test is equally barren of positive indications. The subse- 
quent appearance of cerebral symptoms in the inoculated 
victim is no proof whatever. : 
The dite of a healthy dog is regarded by many nervous 
and timid persons as the probable communication of 
“rabies. This is impossible. Even if rabies developed at 
a later stage in the same animal, the subject of the bite is 
perfectly safe. If this were otherwise, the writer would 
have never penned these lines. The healthy animal, 
however angry and furious he may be towards strangers, 
cannot induce or develop within his system the poison of 
rabies, he must first receive it, the usual source being some 
other rabid animal. Under the exercise of fear engendered 
in ignorance of the above fact, the biting dog is labelled 
“mad,” pursuit instantly commences, he is run down and 
killed, and there is the end of him. But the sufferer lives 
on in doubt and fear, harassed, tormented, and can never 
be consoled, probably the end being long delayed, with- 
out the least sign of the canine disorder. Zhe mistake 
occurs in the haste to Rill the dog. Had he been spared, 
his death or survival, either of which could be ascertained 
in all probability within a week at the most, would reveal 
the true state of the case. 
Another popular error exists in the belief that rabid 
dogs have a great aversion to water. There is no such 
fear as far as our observation has been conducted. We 
have witnessed animals in both forms of the disease en- 
deavour to slake the burning thirst, which they were 
unable to accomplish, owing to the want of nervous power 
which is present from the first, but especially developed 
in the mute or dumb form. With these truths in evidence 
it is incorrect to speak of a rabid dog as being ao with 
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