There is, indeed, i 
apparent as the obstru 
poor creature quite as 
blood of the poor victi 
fluids that are secret 
inward essence. The 
ties so great that it * 
efforts on the part oi 
Strangely enouf 
cobra or viper, to el 
inconvenience from 
in which the lethal 
house, and the poi 
instead of being co: 
the poison of serpe: 
produces such terr 
safety, provided tin 
I would offer a 
wMsh may come wit 
could only be inducec 
influence, and be restv 
oped, that the poor D 
nbsh, rather than resist t 
which have been infected w. 
and in default of other victim 
An unquenchable thirst soo 
spot where he can obtain any liqm 
In the earlier stages of the complaint 
destroyed the powers of his tongue and throat, he piungeo ^ 
the depth of the vessel will permit, in hope of bringing his throat 
fluid. It is generally supposed that a mad Dog will not touch water, and tor this 
malady was termed Hydrophobia, or “dread of water,” but it is now ascertained that the 
animal is so anxious to drink, that he often spills the fluid in his eagerness, and so defeats his 
own object. 
In the last stage of this terrible disease the Dog is seized with an uncontrollable propensity 
to run. He seems not to care where he goes, but runs for the most part in a straight line, 
seldom turning out of his way, and rarely attempting to bite unless he be obstructed in his 
course ; and then he turns savagely upon his real or fancied assailant, and furiously snaps and 
bites without fear or reason. Not the least curious fact of this disease is, that it causes a 
singular insensibility to pain. A rabid Dog will endure terrible injuries without appearing to 
be conscious of them, and, in many cases, these poor creatures have been known to tear away 
portions of their own bodies as calmly as if they were lacerating the dead body of another 
Dog. A similar insensibility to pain is noticeable in human lunatics, who will often inflict the 
most terrible injuries on their own persons, with the most deliberate and unconcerned air 
imaginable. The nerves seem to be deprived of their powers, and to be insensible even to the 
contact of burning coals or red-hot metals. In anger, too, which is in truth a short-lived mad- 
ness, pain is unfelt, and the severest wounds may be received unheeded. 
It is possible that this locomotive instinct of the Dog may give a clue to the cure of this 
fearful malady, and that if a rabid Dog could be permitted to follow its instinct without 
molestation it might rid itself of its ailment by means of this unwonted exercise. 
By this terrible malady the nerves are excited to the highest degree of tension, and it is 
not improbable that by violent and continual exercise the system might by enabled to throw 
off the “peccant humors” that infect every particle of the blood as it circulates through the 
veins, and envenom the natural moisture of the Dog’ s tongue. 
