244 THE MANAGEMENT AND DISEASES OF THE DOG. 



but which is often vulgarly termed ' hydrophobia.' " * (I pre- 

 sume rabies canina is meant.) 



Any such marked insanity in distemper it has never yet 

 been the lot of the author to observe, nor, as far as he can 

 gather, has it been noted by any other veterinarian. Rabies 

 and distemper are, in fact, as widely different in character 

 and pathology as it is possible for two canine maladies to 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 note and 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.t 



The vomiting of blood in the early stage of the malady, 

 described by some autliors, is not by any means an invariable 

 symptom of rabies. The sanguinary tinge of the vomit more 



* From letter in the Morning Post, dated Sept. nth, 1877. The ital- 

 ics are mine. 



t Devouring the excrement has wrongly been described as an infalli- 

 ble sign of rabies. I say wrongly, because dogs in robust health will oc- 

 casionally contract this disgusting habit, puppies in particular. Therefore 

 it is only to be taken cognizance of in connection with the other symp- 

 toms. Again, morbid appetites are often associated with some peculiar 

 condition of the sympathetic nervous system, independent of rabies. ' This 

 is especially to be observed in pregnancy. Strange and impossible grati- 

 fication of fancies and desires fill the human mind, and the same idiocrasy 

 exists in the lower animals. In-calf cows often devour leather, linen, and 

 other strange substances. Looking at it from another point of view, ra- 

 ' bies coming under the class of nervous diseases, we should not be sur- 

 prised at similar morbid appetite's being p.esent. 



