FURTHER REPORT OF CASES OF RABIES IN LANCASHIRE. 609 
sion to the infirmary, suddenly and unexpectedly, having for 
some days before her death become apparently convalescent. 
This case from its long continuance, and the great probability 
up to the time of the patient's death of her final recovery, 
is of the greatest possible interest, and will, I believe, he fully 
recorded by Dr. Reilly in the f Lancet/ I may add that from 
the time of her admission into the workhouse she was kept 
under the influence of hydrate of chloral, which acted most 
powerfully in subduing the paroxysms. 
From the information contained in the interesting table 
compiled by Mr. Nettleship in the Veterinarian for July, 
and the many cases I have from time to time seen recorded 
in the newspapers, I think it highly probable that Preston 
is the centre from which the rabies epidemic now prevailing 
so extensively through the country has originated. In that 
town, in the spring of 1869, we have, as far as I am aware, 
the earliest record of rabies in the north of England. The 
cases occurring there were followed in a few months by others 
some miles further south, and almost simultaneously we 
heard of cases occurring in the counties lying on the east and 
north of Preston, and gradually extending further from the 
point of infection as time goes on. Is it not, therefore, pro- 
bable, that one dog affected with rabies may have been the 
origin of the cases in Preston, and at the same time have 
bitten other dogs which propagated the disease to other 
districts ? It will readily be understood how easily the dis- 
ease may be propagated to distant parts of the country when 
I mention the following circumstance : A terrier belonging 
to a gentleman in this neighbourhood was severely bitten on 
November 8th, 1869, by the same dog which bit the four 
animals referred to in the Veterinarian for March. Soon after- 
wards the owner, who was ignorant of the serious nature of 
the injury inflicted on the animal, and the danger he was 
incurring, sold the dog to a dealer in this town, who again 
sold it shortly after it came into his possession. Immedi- 
ately this became known, inquiries were made by the police 
for the purpose of having the dog either kept under surveil- 
lance or destroyed; the dealer was applied to, but either 
could not or would not furnish the slightest information as 
to its whereabouts. As these men are in the habit of trading: 
with dealers in other towns, it is not improbable that this dog 
may have been sent many miles, and have since become the 
source of an incalculable amount of mischief. 
The disease appears to be also prevalent in the district of 
Windermere, and notices have been issued by the magistrates 
ordering the confinement of all dogs in that neighbourhood. 
