388 DISEASES INVOLVING NERVOUS SYSTEM 



caustics, such as strong hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, 

 strong ammonia, etc., are indicated. Subcutaneous injections 

 ,into the tissues adjacent to the wound may be helpful. 

 Bichlorid (1 to 10,000), or 1 per cent, carbolic acid, may be 

 used. The prompt application of a ligature above the bite, 

 if applicable, is often life-saving. Generally speaking, how- 

 ever, the prevention of rabies by the treatment of the bitten 

 wound is successful only where it has been applied promptly 

 and within the first fifteen minutes after the injury is made. 



The preventive treatment as commonly practised in man 

 consists in subcutaneously injecting the patient daily for a 

 period of fifteen to twenty-one days with an attenuated virus, 

 the virulency of which is increased with each successiye 

 injection. This is commonly spoken of as the Pasteur treat- 

 ment. It is occasionally applied in veterinary practice, al- 

 though on account of its cost only in very valuable animals. 

 Where promptly applied, and the attenuated virus good, 

 excellent results are recorded. ' 



Prophylaxis. — Rabies may be absolutely prevented by doing 

 two things: (a) Inforcing a dog tax and keeping the public 

 thoroughfares free from stray dogs; (b) by muzzling all dogs 

 which are allowed to run at large. That these measures are 

 only successful when applied to an extensive territory is ob- 

 vious. ' Applying them only to a small district Will not give 

 beneficial results, as a rabid dog during the prodromal stage 

 of the disease may wander far and wide, biting any live stock 

 with which it may come in contact. 



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