MISCELLANEA. 
537 
strated beyond doubt by Mr. Rossi that dogs, previously healthy, 
could communicate the disease when enraged or irritated to a 
high degree. Mr. Gillman cites a case in which it originated in a 
dog constantly chained apart from all possible intercourse : and 
although there is no evidence satisfactorily to shew that either 
hunger or thirst, either excessive cold or heat, putrid food or 
water, can give rise to canine madness, yet carnivorous animals 
seem alone, or mostly, subject to it ; and the disease has, probably, 
originated from causes connected with climate and food, singly or 
combined. Volney tells us the disease is unknown in Egypt and 
Syria. At the Cape, where, in the hot weather, dogs live on the 
most putrid food, and in Paraguay, where the heat and want of 
water frequently destroy beasts of every description, it is also un- 
known. 
It was for some time supposed that the disease could not be 
communicated from man; but Majendie and Bresslet affected a 
dog with rabies by inoculating with the saliva of a man under 
that disease. As it is necessary that every person should know 
the principal symptoms of the disease in the dog, for his own 
protection, the following most leading ones will be found trust- 
worthy, being the result of the most accurate observers, and of the 
experience of myself, from several opportunities of witnessing the 
disease. But in man, from a case I saw when in my hospital 
studies, there is scarcely a symptom in common with the canine 
disease, and is hardly to be recognised by the same rules. In the 
dog, the owner will first observe a strangeness, an unaccustomed 
manner, a sluggish, dreamy, heavy look, eyes glazed ; he moves 
about, uncertain when, or for what — picks up any little things *in 
his way, the straws of his bed, or picks his mat ; irritability of 
temper, more vexed than savage ; if a stick is held over him, he 
perhaps gets into a fury. Some lick the anus of others, and form 
attachment to young puppies or kittens ; the nose is in some very 
cold, and they are fond of licking the grate and fire-irons : they eat 
their own excrement, and drink their own water, lapping it fre- 
quently. Antipathies are common with them as in human mad- 
ness — they form attachments, and as strong dislikes. The cat re- 
ceives the chief hatred, or a strange dog is an object of aversion. 
For a time they respect their old companions, but at length attack 
them. By this time the disease is so far advanced, and the irrita- 
bility so great, that he attacks all animals, and man himself, without 
provocation, but is generally harmless, unless molested. At this 
stage he usually leaves his home, and, impelled by some irresistible 
impulse, sallies forth the messenger of terror and death. He, 
perhaps, has now lost the use of his hind limbs from inflammation ; 
his eyes are gorged with blood; the tenacious saliva adheres to his 
VOL. XIX. 4 D 
