ISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 241 



Symptoms. — Rabies assumes two forms : the furious and 

 the tranquil or dumb. 



I shall commence first with furious rabies. 



The earliest symptoms usually observed are a change in 

 the dog's natural manner and habits : he becomes all at once 

 sullen, or, as it were, melancholy ; retires into obscure corners 

 and dark places ; when called, instead of obeying with his 

 usual alacrity, he languidly and apparently with unwillingness 

 approaches, and as suddenly slinks off again. Companionship 

 renders him uneasy ; in fact, throughout there is an unmis- 

 takable desire for solitude. If the eyes at this period are 

 closely observed, a vacant expression will be seen in them; 

 and immediately they met the gaze of the observer, they are 

 dropped in a weary, sleepy manner. 



As the disease proceeds, other and more marked symptoms 

 become developed. A tendency td mischief is sudde.nly 

 manifested. Boots, slippers, hearth-rug, carpet, chair-legs, 

 and what not are worried. If the animal is in the kennel, 

 the straw is mangled and scattered about, the brickwork 

 scratched, flooring torn up, and the whole place, more or less, 

 shows signs of destruction. 



The eyes assume a still more vacant expression ; the gaze 

 appears to be fixed on some distant object. Then a change 

 takes place : the animal proceeds to examine most minutely 

 every crevice and brick round his kennel ; this done, he re- 

 tires again into obscurity, and in a few minutes repeats the 

 operation. Or the eyes are directed with earnest attention to 

 some imaginary moving object, as a beetle or spider, which 

 they appear to be tracing' in its course. Suddenly he jumps 

 forward with a snap at the supposed offender ; and then, as 

 if ashamed at the hallucination, he crouches down, crawls 

 away and hides himself. 



A flow of tenacious saliva is now present. The animal 

 champs his teeth, and smacks his lips. As its tenacity 

 becomes greater and its secretion more rapid, he strives to 

 free his mouth of it with his paws, and this latter act has 



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