352 ACUTE GLANDERS IN TIIE HUMAN SUBJECT. 
of the disease.” My case is, I conceive, corroborative of this 
opinion. It would appear (as indeed is consistent with facts 
connected with the absorption of various miasmata) that a 
certain amount of vital exhaustion or prostration is necessary 
to, or at least strongly favours, the development of the dis- 
ease. The patient had breakfasted early, and during a 
morning remarkable for its sultry, oppressive heat, walked 
until quite fatigued, and was also wearied by a heavy burden ; 
he had no food for six hours, and his stomach was conse- 
quently empty at the time of his being exposed to the chances 
of infection. The electrical condition of the atmosphere has, 
doubtless, much influence over the absorption of this or any 
other aerial poison. It may perhaps be supposed by some, 
that the fact of his being a teetotaller favorably predisposed 
him to the reception of the virus ; but my own judgment and 
experience would be decidedly at variance with such an 
opinion. I have always found that total abstainers generally 
possess far more vigorous constitutions, far greater stamina, 
and consequently far greater powers of resistance to the 
reception of atmospheric poisons, than other persons accus- 
tomed to even the moderate use of alcoholic beverages. But 
perhaps you will deem this beside the question. 
iv. Peculiarity of the Symptoms. — The sudden acces- 
sion and somewhat peculiar character of the symptoms in 
this case, when carefully borne in remembrance, would direct 
our attention to them occurring in future instances, and ex- 
cite suspicion as to their origin and real nature. Here we 
have a man, twenty-four hours only after being exposed to 
infection from a diseased animal, attacked with a train of 
symptoms which, although strongly resembling excessive 
mercurial salivation, yet presented some .points of dissimi- 
larity. The absence of the mercurial foetor, of loosening of 
the teeth, the great swelling of the sublingual glands, the 
general sloughy condition of the lining membrane of the 
mouth and fauces, the prodigious amount of saliva secreted, 
the viscid discharge from the nostril, and above all the ex- 
cessive affection of the nervous system (very similar to that 
observed in delirium tremens, as w as noticed by Dr. Ballard), 
indicated by obstinate watchfulness and a tremulous rapid 
pulse ; and the resistance of these symptoms to ordinary 
treatment, are sufficient, I imagine, to point out a marked 
departure from common cases of malignant sore throat, sto- 
matitis, or mercurial ptyalism. 
v. Treatment. — This terrible malady having generally 
proved fatal, its successful treatment cannot but be consi- 
dered as possessing a strong claim on our interest and atten- 
