On Rabies, 



51 



symptoms will vary in some respects in an animal kept quietly in 

 confinement from those found in the mad dog of the streets tljat has 

 lost its home and been hunted about. 



In most cases the first change observed is a dulness and sullenness, 

 with an indisposition to move, the animal lying crouched up in a corner; 

 probably this is invariably the first symptom, though, especially in 

 dogs at large, it may be overlooked, and the symptoms, or as some- 

 times termed, stage, next following may be the first to attract notice. 

 In this, a shy and suspicious or threatening look is a most charac- 

 teristic feature ; the previous dulness is succeeded by irritability and 

 constant restlessness, with, usually, a disposition to fly at any strange 

 object and bite. A depraved appetite is frequently noticeable in the 

 early stages, natural food being most usually rejected, hay and straw, 

 bits of cloth, wood or cinder frequently being eaten. This is one of the 

 most constant and best recognised symptoms, though not absolutely 

 invariable. 



Hydrophobia, or dread of water, is never present in the dog ; there 

 is sometimes increased thirst, but in dogs in confinement this is not 

 generally marked: there is often inability to swallow from paralysis of 

 the muscles of deglutition and those of the lower jaw, which in an early 

 stage is usually observed drooping, with inability to close it, though 

 the extent and duration of this is variable, and it passes off at a later 

 period. 



Excessive salivation is not usual ; when observed it is in the hot 

 weather, and occurs from loss of the power of deglutition. One of 

 the most characteristic and best recognised symptoms, occurring 

 generally in an early stage, is a remarkable change in the voice, the 

 bark becomes a hollow howl, commencing with a short low note and 

 ending in a higher one prolonged ; it has always a peculiar metallic 

 ring, which once heard cannot be mistaken. 



The further symptoms developed depend chiefly upon the tempera- 

 ment of the animal, modified somewhat as above remarked, by its ex- 

 ternal conditions ; an aggresive disposition is usually found, bat is not 

 invariably present, though in an irascible savage animal it may realise 

 the popular idea of furious rabies, attacking and tearing everything ; 

 in confinement, however, this extreme is not usual, and some dogs are 

 with difficulty induced to bite anything presented to them, even a 

 rabbit or another dog, and the fury said to be excited by the sight of 

 the latter is not generally found in confinement. 



The last stage is that of paralysis, which, more or less developed, is 

 invariable ; it commences in the hind limbs, its first indication often is 

 the animal standing with its hind legs wide apart; when it moves it is 

 unsteady, swaying from side to side, as this progresses it becomes 

 unable to stand, is ultimately completely paralysed, and comatose in 

 the large majority of eases. The tail in confinement is never carried 



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