BABIES IN DOGS 91 



hands and face of those they are familiar with. Yet the virus 

 is equally deadly at this stage ; for if the saliva falls on a 

 pimple or an abraded surface it is readily absorbed, and is 

 really more dangerous than a bad bite inflicted on the 

 covered parts of the body. It is safest to regard every 

 sick dog with suspicion, and to mark attentively any de- 

 parture from the animal's usual habits. If the dog is rest- 

 less and peculiar in its behaviour, mark him well, for the 

 earliest symptom of rabies is generally a fidgety manner, 

 quite foreign to the animal in its own home. It is con- 

 stantly changing its position, seeks out new resting-places, 

 answers reluctantly to a call, gazes about him in a sus- 

 picious manner, and then, perhaps, buries its head in its 

 paws and appears to sleep again, and it will at the 

 slightest sound appear to see imaginary enemies, biting 

 and snapping at nothing in particular. Invariably there 

 is excessive thirst, with perhaps slight vomiting, but always 

 a morbid appetite, the dog refusing its natural food, and 

 greedily devouring all sorts of filth. The carpet, legs of 

 chairs and tables are gnawed if the animal be indoors, or 

 the walls of its kennel if confined. When at liberty it 

 will eat dung, straw, pieces of stone, coal, sticks, &c. 



The flow of saliva from the mouth is never very pro- 

 fuse, and the stories of mad dogs covered with foam are 

 generally so much nonsense, and refer usually to some 

 poor beast in a teething or distemper fit. But, although 

 not profuse, it is thick, viscid, and glutinous, clinging to 

 the corners of the mouth, causing the dog annoyance, and 

 giving rise to that peculiar fighting with the paws which 

 leads to the ' bone in the throat ' theory. 



As the disease advances we may have blind fury or deli- 

 berate treachery, or what has been described as ' instinctive 

 desire to propagate the affection.' Other dogs are especially 

 the subject of aversion, and later, other animals are freely 

 attacked. Much cunning is often displayed in gaining 

 liberty, and, when this is secured, the rabid dog will often go 

 miles, passing through villages and leaving behind unmis- 

 takable evidence of its presence, which is perhaps presently 



