It ABIES IN THE CAT. 
659 
These spasms frequently occur without being produced by 
any external cause. Mr. Gilman says of one that he saw, that 
it started and threw itself about in a most extraordinary manner. 
Sometimes it sprang at least three feet from the ground, and beat 
itself forcibly against the wall, and at other times it ran round on 
its hind lea’s like a dog. This continued until the animal was ex- 
hausted, when it would fall down and pant, but soon again 
become convulsed, leaping from the ground as before, and falling 
w r ith considerable violence on his back or sides. 
No disposition to do mischief has yet been observed in the 
rabid pig. This is singular when his occasional ferocity in a 
state of health is considered. Mr. Gilman describes a rabid 
sow, as coming from her bed when called, and going up to his 
very feet, without attempting to injure him. It is true, there are 
not many cases of rabies in the pig on record ; but those which 
are related perfectly agree in this particular. If, however, 
there is no ferocity, there is much suspicion. The anxious 
searching eye sufficiently indicates this ; and at times it is so 
suddenly lighted up — there is such a ferocious glare — that we are 
led to imagine the pig w 7 ould not always be so harmless as we 
have hitherto found him to be. 
In the eagerness with which he devours every filthy and dis- 
gusting substance within his reach he fully equals the dog. 
His own litter and excrement are generally swallowed ; and when 
he has a little respite from his convulsions, and his strength is 
not quite wasted, he is diligently employed in turning up the 
ground in the dirtiest situations that he can find. 
It is rare that rabies in the pig terminates in paralysis. Much 
oftener dreadful convulsions rapidly succeed to each other, until 
the strength of the animal is exhausted. 
Rabies in the Cat . — Fortunately for us, this does not often 
occur, for a mad cat is a truly fearful animal. I have seen 
two cases, one of them to my cost ; yet I am unable to give you 
any satisfactory account of the progress of the disease. The 
first stage seems to be one of sullenness, and which probably 
would last to her death ; but from that sullenness it is dangerous 
to rouse her. She probably would not, except in the paroxysm 
of rage, attack any one ; but during that paroxysm she knows 
no fear, nor has her ferocity any bounds. 
I was desired to call on the daughter of one of our best novel- 
ists and poets. A cat that had been the inhabitant of the 
nursery, and the playmate of the children, had all at once become 
sullen and ill-tempered. It had taken refuge in an upper room, 
and could not be coaxed from the corner in which it was crouched. 
