156 CANINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY 



of incubation varies from three to six weeks or 

 longer, with an average of twenty-five days. 



Symptoms. — The clinical appearance of rabies oc- 

 curs in two forms, namely, furious rabies and dumb 

 rabies. The two are only different forms of one 

 and the same disease, not two different diseases as 

 was formerly supposed. It must be understood, 

 however, that there are many intermediate forms 

 between these two varieties, which often merge so 

 closely into each other that a distinction is impos- 

 sible- Rabies runs an acute and invariably fatal* 

 course in from two to ten days. 



Furious Rabies 



There are three stages recognized in furious ra- 

 bies, — the premonitory stage, the maniacal stage, 

 and the paralytic stage. 



The premonitory stage lasts on an average from 

 twelve to forty-eight hours and is characterized by 

 an alteration in the behavior and disposition of 

 the patient. The animal becomes either morose and 

 sullen, furtive and irritable, or shows just the op- 

 posite characteristics — an increased affection and 

 desire for its master's notice. Restlessness and 

 nervousness, and a capricious and perverted appe- 

 tite, are well-marked symptoms of the disease. In 

 some cases hyperesthesia in the region of the site 

 of inoculation causes the patient to bite at the 

 seat of injury. There is a tendency to gnaw and 

 tear up whatever comes across his way, and he 

 sometimes swallows foreign objects, such as stones, 

 earth, grass, rags, pieces of wood, and even excre- 

 ment. In other cases the patient continually licks 

 his genital organs and shows sexual excitement. 



*It is believed by some competent autiiorities -mat mild cases 

 of rabies occur which are not ordinarily recognized and from 

 which the animal recovers. It is believed that the disease is often 

 spread by these mild unrecognized cases. 



