Iia I>ISBA3£S OX' DOGS. 



Eya Affected. — If the eyes aje carefully looked at, It will he seen 

 (if the case is one of rabies) that they have an unnatural gleam, an 

 unsteady look, not stupid, but suggesting that the brain is, to some 

 slight extent, affected. If the dog is now taken into a strong light, 

 he will endeavour to avoid it, as, no doubt, it causes pain. So far, 

 the redress from congestion may not have appeared in the eye, nor 

 the peculiar squint that so many writers have called attention to, 

 but, at a very early stage, the keen observer will detect an anxious 

 expression and unsteady look, which give to the dog an uneasy 

 aspect. 



Bright and Glistening Ohjeeta. — Closely connected with the fore- 

 going is the effect of bright objects, which, although not exciting to 

 fuiy, yet show that they annoy. In a pet dog of my own that was 

 seized with rabies, the first symptom that aroused my suspicions was 

 her darting at the glistening patent leather points on a pair of 

 slippers. She did not bite at them savagely, but pounced on them 

 and nibbled them. She had seen them on my feet often before with- 

 out taking this notice of them, and I thought it strange, as she 

 repeated the act several times, although stopping when ordered. 

 Soon after, she pounced on the cat, but, being naturally of a vei-y 

 jealous disposition, I attributed that act to her just having received 

 an extra amount of petting to get her to remain in position to have 

 her portrait taken. On examining the eyes, I had a conviction, 

 causing an uneasy feeling, that there was an unnatural light ia 

 them ; and this opinion was confirmed on closer examination next 

 day. Still, the change was not vei-y gieat, nor did this symptom 

 develop very rapidly, but it certainly noticeably increased. 1 

 mention these, not that they are proofs of rabies by themselves, but 

 because their appearance calls for great caution and very close 

 watchfulness, and certainly for temporary isolation. 



Temper. — The effect on temper is, in the first stage, great irrita- 

 bility, rather than savageness, but it must never be forgotten that 

 iadividual cases vary considerably, and any deviation from the ordi- 

 nary habits demands from the master the gi'eatest attention and care. 



Snapping at Imagincury Objects. — As clearly showing that the 

 brain is affected, the dog may be seen to snap at imaginary objects, 

 biting the air in fact, as though he were catching flies, an act which 

 it is very apt to be mistaken for, it being a common practice with 

 many dogs. During this restless period the poor dog prowls about, 

 sniffing about comers, and apparently looking for something. He 

 will start forward and snap at some unseen enemy by which he 

 appears haunted, and the delusion is constantly repeated. 



Excessive Display of Affection. — Concurrently with all or some oi 

 the symptoms, the dog may, impelled by the strong love he feels ioi 



