254 The Management and Diseases of the Dog. 
be. Those nervous symptoms which are frequently present in 
the subacute stages of distemper do not bear the slightest 
analogy to “rabid insanity,” and only those inexperienced 
in the latter disease could mistake them. 
An unusual affection has been described as another symp- 
tom, and whether the unfortunate creature being aware of 
its hopeless condition accounts for it, is only surmise. 
Certain it is such a manifestation is, especially in the earlier 
stages, very frequent. 
Another symptom worthy of noteand exceedingly charac- 
teristic, is the appetite. This invariably assumes a morbid 
character. Portions of wood, stones, earth, hair, excrement, 
and other filth are. devoured, whilst the ordinary meal 
remains untouched.* 
The vomiting of blood in the early stage of the malady, 
described by some authors, is not by any means an in- 
variable symptom of rabies. The sanguinary tinge of the 
vomit more frequently proceeds from wounds of the tongue 
or mouth, than from any morbid condition of the stomach. 
Lastly, when a dog unconfined becomes rabid, there is 
much that is characteristic in his mode of travelling. His 
gait may be termed as rambling, or jog-trot. The head is 
carried low, the tongue protrudes from the side of the 
mouth, or hangs pendent in front, swollen and covered with 
* Devouring the excrement has wrongly been described as an in- 
fallible sign of rabies. I say wrongly because dogs in robust health 
will occasionally’ contract this disgusting habit, puppzes in particular. 
Therefore it is only to be taken cognizance of in connection with the 
other symptoms. Again, morbid appetites are often associated with 
some peculiar condition of the sympathetic nervoussystem, independent 
of rabies. This is especially to be observed in pregnancy. Strange 
and impossible gratification of fancies and desires fill the human mind, 
and the same idiosyncrasy exists in the lower animals. In-calf cows 
often devour leather, linen, and other strange substances. Looking at 
it from another point of view, rabies coming under the class of nervous 
diseases, we should not be surnrised at similar morbid appetites being 
present. 
