0ISE:aSES 



OF 



THE J^ERVOUS SYSTEM. 



HrsiR opHosia. 



The antiquity of hydrophobia is not precisely known. Aristotle is the 

 flrst author to mention this malady, but his account of it is remarkably 

 incorrect, if the text be not corrupted. He says, " all animals that are bit- 

 ten by a rabid dog are affected with the disease except man ; and that the 

 disease proves fatal to all animals but man." 



Among the ancient authors CsBlius Aurelianus treated all the important 

 questions relating to hydrophobia in a most masterly mamter. After Mm 

 centuries passed during which, with but few exceptions, independent 

 observations ceased, and little or nothing was added to the previous 

 knowledge on the subject. 



Investigations were renewed towards the end of the last century by 

 Hunter and other intelligent observers, and recently a more exact knowl- 

 edge of the disease has been acquired through the studies and experiments 

 of Hertwig, Meynell, Touatt, Magendie, Blaine, Virohow, Eeder and 

 others. 



Hydrophobia or more properly rabies, which prevails chiefly among 

 animals of the canine species, ( dog, wolf, fox, jackal ) is at the present 

 time accepted as being an acute infectious disease, coming on in the form 

 of a functional disturbance of the central nervous system, without struct- 

 ural changes which can be considered essential to the affection. 



Examinations after death have revealed in most cases diseased appear- 

 ances, hut not one has been found to he present invariably, and no local 

 changes have heen discovered which could explain all the symptoms. 



Causation . — The theory of a spontaneous development of rabies so 

 frequently advanced, has heen rejected as entirely unfounded by very 



