242 THE MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



sealed the fate of more than one individual by being mistaken 

 for a bone fixed in the teeth or throat* 



The voice at this time becomes strangely altered. It is 

 hardly possible to describe it, though when once heard it can 

 never be forgotten. It is kind of blending between a bark 

 and a howl, having a croupy sound, and most frequently is 

 heard at night. 



* Last year I was requested to visit a small toy terrier, belonging to 

 a lady of title. The messenger informed me tlie animal was supposed to 

 have a bone in its throat.' On my arrival, which was between nine and ten 

 p.m , I found the subject, which the keeper's wife was nursing, with its mouth 

 slightly open. On removing my hand, after closing the jaWs, the lower one 

 again dropped half an inch. External manipulation about the throat 

 produced no indications of pain or irritability. I then — not suspecting 

 any thing serious or unusual from the information I had received, pro- 

 ceeded, with the aid of a candle-light, to examine the posterior part of the 

 mouth. This was discovered to be inflamed, but no bone could be detected. 

 I then passed my .two fore-iingers down, with the same result. Thinking 

 it possible the bone had passed on, and probably left some laceration be- 

 hind, with paralysis from its long retention in a fixed position, I ordered 

 a hot linseed-meal or mustard-poultice to the throat, and a little warm beef- 

 tea or broth to be given, promising to call the following day. This I was 

 prevented from doing, and an assistant was sent instead. I, however, 

 omitted to tell him the nature of the case, but became back with the idea, 

 probably from being also told the same tale, viz., that the dog had " swal- 

 lowed a bone." The following day I again visited the patient, when, 

 upon opening the door, of the room, the animal, without barking, made a 

 rilsh at me. Pulling the door to quickly, I waited a minute or so, and 

 then cautiously looked in. He was crouching in a corner with his eyes 

 half-closed, and his head nodding in a drowsy manner. He gave a start, 

 or, as it were, awoke suddenly, changed his position, and fell off again in 

 the same drowsy state ; the lower jaw stiH remained dropped. I imme- 

 diately became impressed with the belief that it was a case of dumb rabies, 

 but, to make the matter more certain, I ordered the animal to be placed 

 in security, and carefully Watched, Next morning, unmistakable symptonis \ 

 of rabies manifested themselves, and the dog was shot. Another animal, 

 a companion, sickened in like manner, and was also destroyed. Fortu- 

 ately, I had no abrasions on my hands, or I might have shared a similar 

 fate. " 



I mention this case as illustrative of the great care and suspicion with 

 which such cases and their history should be received. 



