286 
HYDROPHOBIA IN A HORSE. 
FEARFUL CASE OF HYDROPHOBIA IN A HORSE. 
On Saturday last, a strong harness horse, the property ol 
Mr. M c Crum, of the mills, near Armagh, died in a rabid 
state. The animal, on the day previous, appeared excited, 
and showed other symptoms of illness, sweating more than 
usually, when at work, and when yoked to the plough, fre- 
quently biting and snapping at the other horse, in an 
extraordinary manner. In the evening he became worse, 
and, during the night, was so violent as to alarm the kiln- 
man, who called the other servants, as well as Mr. M‘Crum, 
who lost no time in sending for Mr. Small, Veterinary 
Surgeon. In the interim, one of the men offered the horse 
a bucket of water, and was furiously attacked by the animal, 
and bitten on the brow, immediately above the eye. Another 
man, in attempting to secure the horse, was likewise bitten 
on the hand. On Mr. Small’s arrival, he immediately dis- 
covered the fatal symptoms of hydrophobia, and pronounced 
the animal rabid. He had the unfortunate men who were 
bitten forthwith sent to Armagh, where their wounds were 
cauterised and dressed by Dr. Robinson, of the County 
Infirmary. Every effort was made to secure the horse in 
the stable, but in vain. He rushed open-mouthed at any 
one who dared to approach him, and, in frightful frenzy, 
tore down manger, rack, and stalls, raging and foaming 
amidst the ruins. At length he burst open the door, and 
made his escape to an adjacent orchard, where, being well 
enclosed, he was secured from doing further mischief. During 
the paroxysms, which increased in violence every hour, he 
attempted to bite or seize with his mouth any object that 
came in his way. About mid day he got entangled in the 
branches of an apple-tree, where he struggled till completely 
exhausted, then fell back, and died in dreadful agony. 
A careful post-mortem examination w as subsequently made 
by Mr. Small, who found all the symptoms of rabies fully 
confirmed. The horse had been for several years in the pos- 
session of Mr. M‘Crum, and, previously to the attack, w r as a 
docile and tractable animal. We understand Mr. Small 
stated, in reference to this case, that although the animal 
w r as very violent w T hen water w 7 as presented to him, and 
literally stamped the bucket to atoms under his feet, that 
hydrophobia, or dread of w T ater, is no symptom of rabies in 
the lower animals. This is a striking fact which is w orthy 
of public attention, when vouched by stich competent and 
experienced professional authority. 
