HYDROPHOBIA IN SHEEP. 
317 
Mr. Whitworth, who stated to me that he had lost six, in- 
clusive of those dispatched by the slaughterman, and that 
seven more were affected in the same way, which seven 
(accompanied by that gentleman) I at once proceeded to 
examine. Four of this number exhibited symptoms of great 
restlessness and excitement, such as butting at each other, 
hunting each other about, attempting the act of coition, at 
the same time uttering sounds similar to the low bleating 
noise made by a tup previous to the commencement of such 
act. At intervals they rubbed the bitten parts against cribs, 
troughs, hurdles, or any other convenient objects in their 
way; once or twice they evinced a disposition to eat dirt, 
and bit the bark off of the hurdle slats ; at other times they 
would hustle together, as if frightened or hunted by a dog ; 
and, upon the whole, their manner was highly excitable and 
somewhat violent. The remaining three were lying down, 
apparently very drowsy and very ill. The first thing notice- 
able about them was an almost incessant licking of the lips 
and nostrils, of^which action the animals scarcely appeared 
conscious. When a stranger approached they would sud- 
denly start, the stupor vanishing with the act, look wistfully 
round, and appear to be attentively looking at imaginary 
as well as real objects ; this symptom would soon pass off, 
the head would be gradually lowered, and the half-comatose 
appearance again would set in. On examining these animals, I 
found that the saliva was saponaceous, the buccal membrane 
of a reddish-brown colour, the Schneiderian membrane highly 
injected, the conjunctival slightly so ; to which may be 
added that their heads were somewhat swollen. I was told, 
on inquiry, that in twenty-four hours after the attack com- 
menced they showed no disposition to eat provender of any 
kind. Previous to leaving, I obtained permission of the 
owner to institute a 'post-mortem on any two of the affected 
sheep. The day following I proceeded to Wootton, and 
found that one had died about ten minutes previous to my 
arrival, and that another was in the last stage of dissolution. 
The external appearances of the defunct animal were as 
follows : — The inside of the hind- and fore-legs much dis- 
coloured, and of a gangrenous aspect ; the back on each side 
of the spine also exhibiting patches of the same colour ; 
also around the parts bitten, to some considerable space, 
shading off into a dull brown tint; the wounds were open, 
and discharged a dark-brown serous fluid, but no globules of 
pus were visible in it. Post-mortem : on taking off the skin, 
I found that the afore-mentioned discolorations were confined 
to the skin and areolar tissue. On opening the abdominal 
xxvi. 42 
