.HYDROPHOBIA. 443 



water into the back part of his mouth to moisten and to cool his 

 dry and parched fauces. Hence, instead of this disease being 

 always characterised by the dread of water in the dog, it is 

 marked by a thirst often perfectly unquenchable. Twenty years 

 ago, this assertion would have been peremptorily denied. Even 

 at the present day we occasionally meet with those who ought to 

 know better, and who will not believe that the dog which fairly, 

 or perhaps eagerly, drinks, can be rabid." — Youatt, pp. 135-6. 



From my own experience I can fully confirm the above account, 

 having seen seven cases of genuine rabies, in all of which thirst 

 was present in a greater or less degree ; and in five of which the 

 disease was communicated to other dogs. 



If the rabid dog is not molested, he will seldom attack any 

 living object ; but the slightest obstruction in his path is sufficient 

 to rouse his fury, and he then bites savagely, and in the most un- 

 reasoning manner, so as to be wholly uncontrollable by fear of the 

 consequences. The gait, when at liberty, is a long trot, without 

 any deviation from the straight line, except what is compulsory 

 from the nature of the surrounding objects. 



The average time of the occurrence of rabies after the bite is, in 

 the dog, from three weeks to six months, or possibly even longer : 

 so that a suspected case requires careful watching for at least that 

 time ; but, after three months, the animal suspected to have been 

 bitten may be considered tolerably safe. 



The duration of the disease is about four or five days, but I have 

 myself known a case fatal in forty-eight hours. 



As there has never yet been discovered a cure for rabies, so the 

 best plan in all cases is to destroy the dog as soon as he is clearly 

 shown to exhibit the disease. In the interval he should be 

 secluded in a safe place, where he cannot possibly get at any living 

 animal. 



