HYDROPHOBIA 263 



the animal barks and snaps at imaginary objects. The 

 bark of a mad dog is especially characteristic, and once 

 heard, is not easily forgotten. It is a hoarse, low note, 

 not at all like the animal's natural voice, somewhat 

 between a bark and a howl. A mad dog is not afraid 

 of water, as is commonly supposed; on the contrary, it 

 is constantly trying to drink, but is unable to do so owing 

 to the spasm of the muscles of the pharynx. As the 

 disease progresses the symptoms become aggravated ; the 

 animal snaps and bites at everything within reach ; if 

 chained it will seize and tear at the chain, or if touched 

 with a stick it will bite in the most furious manner. As 

 time goes on and the dog becomes more exhausted by 

 these fits of fury, it falls into a more or less comatose 

 condition, waking up now and then in a fit of passion. 

 This continues until the fourth or fifth day, when, worn 

 out by repeated attacks of fury and want of food, the 

 animal dies from sheer exhaustion and asphyxia. If the 

 dog be at large he may wander a long way from home, 

 biting animals or people indiscriminately, and by-and-by, 

 when tired, his gait will be seen to be unsteady, he totters 

 along as he walks, with his tongue lolling out, his tail 

 pendulous, his coat covered with blood and dirt, and 

 stares about as if partially blind, which in reality he is. 



In Dumb Madness the animal will be found to have lost 

 its voice, its mouth is constantly open, owing to paralysis 

 of the lower jaw (many people often thinking that the 

 animal has simply broken or dislocated its jaw, never 

 dreaming that it is mad), and its eyes have the same fixed 

 glassy stare as in raving madness. It is very quiet, and 

 evinces a constant desire to sleep. Though apparently 

 much less dangerous than the raving madness, yet the 

 saliva of an animal affected with the dumb form is equally 

 virulent. 



