RABIES IN THE DOG.— SYMPTOMS. 
523 
tongue and the jaws. The mouth is partially open, and the 
tongue protruding. In some cases the dog is able to close his 
mouth by a sudden and violent effort, and is as ferocious and 
as dangerous as the one the muscles of whose face are unaffected. 
He is, perhaps, more to be dreaded, for his appearance of harm- 
lessness may lead those who are about him to expose themselves 
to unnecessary danger. At other times the palsy is complete, and 
the animal is unable to close his mouth or retract his tongue. 
Yet even this is uncertain and deceitful — it wears away as the 
desire to effect mischief increases — it is that which the dog can 
altogether shake off under the influence of strong excitement — 
or it gradually steals over the animal when the powers of nature 
are nearly exhausted. The ferocious and dumb madness are 
not two diseases — they are varieties of the same disease, — they 
are only different stages of it. The pug oftenest exhibits the 
dumb variety, and it is seldomest apparent in the half-bred 
fighting terrier. 
Caution as to this Distinction . — The circumstances which ac- 
company this partial paralysis are generally sufficiently charac- 
teristic : — The tongue not only protrudes, but it is discoloured — - 
it is leaden-coloured, or almost black. The countenance of the 
dog may exhibit considerable ferocity, but it is more expressive 
of deep distress, and, from the impossibility of using the tongue 
in lapping, the poor animal soon begins to labour under the most 
singular and tormenting thirst. He hangs over the water for 
many successive minutes, vainly attempting to raise it to the 
posterior part of his mouth — he plunges his whole face into it — 
he returns to the task many times in an hour, but the fluid is 
not diminished, and a thick spume covering the surface of the 
water is the only result of all his efforts. I have already alluded 
to this, and I return to it for the purpose of cautioning you to 
be a little on your guard against deception, even here. Dogs 
were designed to feed on the refuse of human aliment : bones 
constitute a frequent and a considerable portion of their nutri- 
ment. In the eagerness with which these bones are crushed, 
spiculae or large pieces of them become wedged between the 
molar teeth, and form an inseparable obstacle to the closing of 
the mouth. The tongue partially protrudes ; there is a constant 
discharge of saliva from the mouth, far greater than when the 
true paralysis exists — the dog is continually fighting at the 
corners of his mouth, and the countenance is expressive of in- 
tense anxiety, although not of quite the same irritable character 
as in rabies. 
Illustrative Case . — I was requested to meet a medical gentle- 
man in consultation respecting a supposed case of rabies. There 
