DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 243 



A thoroughly savage and morose disposition becomes at 

 this period firmly established. Any article presented will be 

 seized and ferociously mangled. The poor creature in its 

 paroxysms is regardless of pain ; the lips are ' wounded, and 

 even the teeth broken, in its frantic efforts to avenge some 

 imagined injury or offence.* 



During and immediately after the paroxysm, the breathing 

 is short and painful, and the animal looks ■ an exhausted ob- 

 ject, as if suffering from the effects of a hard-fought sanguin- 

 ary battle. 



As the malady proceeds towards its last stage, the head 

 frequently becomes swollen, particularly about the eyes, which 

 assume a brilliant or lustrous appearance, and the conjuncti- 

 val membrane is deeply injected. An anxious haggard coun- 

 tenance is present throughout. 



The animal may gradually sink into a state, of stupor, or 

 die in a paroxysm of rage. Paralysis is sometimes associated 

 with the disease from its commencement, and is rarely absent 

 towards its termination. Emaciation is rapid under all cir- 

 cumstances. 



One marked symptom in rabies, as opposed to all other 

 nervous affections, is the magicail influence of voices the 

 anitaal is accustomed to. Even in moments, of frenzy the 

 call of one the poor sufferer knows is instantly recognized, 

 and for a brief space of time produces an appearance of 

 sanity. 



It has been stated by a professed authority, Grantley F. 

 Berkeley, that " Dogs become uiter]y insane through distem- 

 per, and are for the time »?«(/ to all intents and purposes." 

 " If you prevent distemper in dogs ' by vaccination ' (?) well 

 performed, you decrease the madness in dogs, which in num- 

 berless cases arise from the effects of the 'common distemper,' 



* These fits of fury are not always attendant on rabies, if the animal 

 be left to itself ; but nervous excitability appears to be predominant more 

 or less throughout the disease. 



