195 
FOUR CASES OF RABIES IN CATTLE. 
By William Worthington, M.R.C.V.S., Wigan, 
Lancashire. 
Perhaps the following history of four cases of rabies 
which came under my notice in November and December 
last, although they may add nothing to our present knowledge 
of the pathology of this dreaded and mysterious disease, 
may not be unworthy of record in the pages of the Veteri- 
narian. 
On Sunday the 28th of November, 1869, I was requested 
to visit a heifer belonging to a farmer residing about seven 
miles from here. I was desired to see the animal, not because 
the owner thought my services would be of much avail, as he 
considered the case hopeless, but, from the peculiar and unusual 
character of the symptoms, he feared it might be the outbreak 
of some contagious disease, and was anxious to know whether 
such was really the case or not. 
On inquiring the history of the case I learned the follow- 
ing particulars : — The heifer, which was a very small one, two 
years old and in calf, had been noticed to be dull and to 
separate from the rest of the herd in the field on the pre- 
ceding Thursday. Not much regard, however, was paid to 
this, but on the following day the owner’s attention was 
again drawn to her by observing her face and horns covered 
with soil, and she was now seen to be labouring under great 
excitement, having a wild startled look, bellowing frequently, 
and occasionally charging furiously at her companions ; a 
great change also was observable in the abdomen, which 
presented an extremely hollow, almost emaciated appearance, 
as if the animal had recently undergone a long fast. Think- 
ing that she had probably cast her calf in some part of the 
field, and that her excitement was due to this cause, a vigilant 
search was made, but no trace of abortion having occurred 
could be discovered. 
She was immediately taken up and placed in a loose box, 
and from this time until the owner came to request my 
attendance her excitement and restlessness had been almost 
continuous. She was ever on the alert, and would instantly 
charge at any one who entered the place. A large quantity 
of frothy saliva hung from the lips, and the bellowing was 
almost incessant. She had refused all food since the previous 
Thursday, but seemed to suffer great thirst, and when supplied 
