38(i 
Case of Hydrophobia. 
[Dec. 
jy . — Case of Hydrophobia. 
To the Editor of the Gleanings in Science. 
Sir, 
I beg to he allowed a little space in your columns to give a short account of an 
accident from Hydrophobia, which lately befel my dogs, and which may be of 
some use in shewing that we cannot be too careful when a mad dog has made 
an attack on a dog kennel, although not the smallest mark of a bite may be found 
at the time. 
On the 7th of March last, about day-break, a mad dog ran through my camp, and 
seizing a tame antelope, which was lying near my tent, unaware of any danger, tore 
a piece of skin about the size of a half-crown piece from between the ear and the 
eyes ; the cries of the deer brought to her assistance two setter dogs, who drove 
the paria off and gave him a sound drubbing ; he at the same time did not appear 
to be idle, and by his exertions speedily got off, and was seen making his way at 
full speed across the plain. All this happened within the space of half a minute; 
the dogs were very carefully examined, and I thought myself exceedingly fortu- 
nate, that not a single mark of a bite or scratch was found ; the poor deer however 
was much hurt, but the wound was dressed by the natives in their usual way by 
applying pounded turmeric, and it speedily got well. 
On the 19th of March, I was informed by my servants, that the deer was ailing, 
and on examining it, I found that the wound had slightly cpened, and the animal 
at the same time had all the appearance of being affected by Hydrophobia; it 
endeavoured to eat, but could neither swallow meat, or drink, and was much 
inclined to venery, a symptom common to all the dogs which were afterwards 
infected, and always at the commencement of the disease : on the morning of the 
21st, it fell into fits, and had them occasionally throughout the day, and after 
suffering much distress, died on the morning of the 22nd. 
The dogs continued perfectly well till the beginning of April, when one of them 
began to get restless, running to and fro, and careless about his sports, which 1 
attributed to the heat of the weather. On the 15th, however, his peculiar bark and 
the manner he lapped water, as if eating or devoured it, shewed too plainly that 
the disease had taken effect ; his bark became a disagreeable howl, and latterly he 
was unahle either to masticate or swallow food, however often he attempted it ; and 
after much suffering, he died on the 23rd. The circumstance of his living so long 
under the disease was, I conceive, owing to the great care taken of him, and by 
forcibly passing soup and little bits of meat down his gullet ; this however was 
latterly impracticable, from the swelled state of the throat and tongue. On the 
18th of May, a poodle dog was infected, and died on the 20th. On the 28th, a 
young setter dog died of the disease ; the other setter dog, which had attacked the 
paria°dog, died on the 15th of June, and on the 20th of the same month, another 
young setter also died. None of these animals had ever the smallest appearance 
of being bit at any time, and all died in a similar manner, under the symptoms 
which made their appearance in the following order : 
1st.— Extraordinary inclination to venery, and restlessness. 
2nd.— Great thirst, lapping as if devouring the water, and yet no diminution o 
the quantity. . . 
3rd. — A howling bark ; the animal endeavours to eat, but the power of deglutition 
completely stopped. The pupil of the eye scarcely appearing from under the 
upper eyelid. . 
4th. — Great prostration of strength ; spasms, — in one of which the animal en s i 
miserable existence. 
